Transport modes and the future of the category
In a logistics center, each production step plays a specific role in the quality of customer service and the level of satisfaction of the final consumer. However, none of them is as important as the transportation of the developed products.
It is not uncommon for freight to directly influence a company’s profits. As it concerns approximately 60% of operating costs , it manages to measure losses and gains, and influence the increase in profit margins from transactions related to distribution.
These, as far as you are concerned, are generated as a result of a series of factors, such as the quality and situation of the products, the implementation of reverse logistics and, above all, the chosen route and the chosen mode of transport.
Transport Mode
The Transport Mode refers to the forms of displacement obtained by a company. It indicates whether a product will be distributed via ship, plane or road, following the specifications of the cargo and the company’s needs.
This choice must be made based on the company’s modus operandi , the product transported, the weight and type of cargo, the delivery and withdrawal locations, its fragility, the delivery period and many others. For this reason, all options must be considered strategically to bring the best benefits to operations.
However, the routes are different, requiring different modalities. Depending on the format, deliverables can be carried out by one, two or three modules:
- Unimodal : Transport made in only one way;
- Intermodal : As driving has different sections, the movement is done by more than one modality. However, these are agreed in different contracts;
- Multimodal : Just like intermodal, multimodal brings sections that require their own modalities, but in this case, they are all included in the same contract.
It is worth remembering that the choice must be deep so that the modes intertwine and offer the best solutions to the company.
Types of transport modes and their benefits
Rail Transport Mode
The Rail Transport Modal is done with the help of the railway network of trains. Very common at the beginning of Brazilian industrial development, they lost their popularity and, currently, we are regaining strength in investments through new economic policies with the private sector.
They are used to transport large-volume cargo over long distances, usually between distant states. The delivery locations are fixed, as well as the routes, reducing the flexibility of the modal, but guaranteeing stability and security.
Precisely because of these benefits, they are used to transport commodities , such as agricultural and steel products, and iron and oil derivatives, which adequately support long journeys.
They have a low operating cost because they do not use fuel or have such aggressive rates. However, they require the presence of other means to complete the delivery.
Road Transport Mode
The Road Transport Modal is made by vehicles such as cars and trucks on roads and highways that cross the entire national territory. This gives accessibility to the modality, allowing the products to reach all customers in a short time.
This agility is not the only advantage. As it is the most used means of transport, this modal has a specialized workforce and less bureaucracy in issuing documents.
This generates another requirement, the need for constant investment. Because they use fuel for quick transportation and have toll routes, they generate high costs for the company’s net balance. In addition, they have a limit on the size, number and weight of transported loads that need to be considered.
Another point to consider is that, due to the flexibility of the routes, they have a greater risk of accidents, making locomotion difficult and requiring more planning from those who analyze the travel itineraries.
Waterway Transport Mode
The Waterway Transport Mode refers to transport carried out by sea. Focused on long demands, it connects the national and international market.
Ideal for high volume loads that don’t require fast deliveries. It also works in connection with other modes that help with the completion of transport.
It is a stable and safe medium that presents low risk to loads, which are transported with facilitated bureaucracy. As it is also not so popular commercially, it does not have high investments or are inspected frequently.
Pipeline Transport Mode
Pipeline transport modes have become very well known in recent years. They deal with deliveries made using a system of ducts that cross countries, whether in an apparent, underground or maritime environment.
They transport large loads of gases, liquids and grains on fixed routes, especially between European countries. Although the distances are long, they have a low operating cost and require high investment in installation.
They are safe and reliable due to the high stability of their foundations. However, although cases are rare, they pose risks of large environmental accidents. For this reason, they have a series of documents related to the transport license that need to be filled out.
Air Transport Mode
One of the modalities that has grown the most in recent years is done by air, with routes that may or may not cross the entire planet.
As they are not influenced by the unpredictability of the routes, they transport loads quickly. With this, they allow the delivery of perishable, fragile and high value-added products.
Although they require access terminals, they can easily reach metropolises due to the presence of airports. However, this is done with high fuel costs and requiring connection to other modes for completion.
Therefore, it is important to consider that the loads are limited and must have a predetermined weight and shape.
The Future of Transport
All these modes influence how the customer’s shopping experience will be and how the company reaches its target audience. However, the choice of modes alone cannot positively transform administration.
The future of transport requires that the choice of modes be made assertively, based on strategic data and reports. This is provided by process automation.
Automation is something that emerged a few years ago and allows companies to invest less in the search for labor and more in qualification. With digitalized processes carried out autonomously, the teams are allocated to creative tasks, such as the analysis of the subjective characteristics of the roads.
As for the rational numbers and results, these are organized into information that supports the professionals’ decision-making. With this, there are fewer errors and possible problems in routes to be mitigated.
Products such as motorized conveyors and lifting systems facilitate the movement of loads and ensure that products maintain production quality. Others, such as transfer and picking systems , speed up handling and ensure that the flow is homogeneous, not interfering with constant deliveries.
From all this, automation is part of the future of transport and ensures that high performance is achieved together with the modal, considering customer needs and delivery specifications.
To bring this to the reality of your company, Águia Sistemas offers automation products and services and you can check out all the benefits of the solutions on our website .
(The text above was written with information from the sites logistica.pibernat.com.br, prestex.com.br, administradores.com.br, maxitrans.com.br, cargos.com.br, portogente.com.br, supportelogistica.com.br, fatelog.com.br, lincros.comand nucleodoconhecimento.com.br).