Logistics and Distribution Management

Assignment 2 - Modes of transportation

SUBMITTED BY
Anitha R(14MBA001)
ArunPrabakaran P S(14MBA002)
Saravanan M(14MBA019)
Shanthosh G(14MBA022)
Vinusha Priyanka P J(14MBA030)
Dinesh Babu N (14MBA039)

Modes of transportation
Mode of transportation is a term used to distinguish substantially different ways to
perform transport. The most dominant modes of transport are aviation, ship transport, and
land transport, which includes rail, road and off-road transport. Other modes also exist,
including pipelines, cable transport, and space transport. Human-powered transport and
animal-powered transport are sometimes regarded as their own mode, but these normally also
fall into the other categories. In general, transportation is used for the movement of people,
animals, and other things.
Road transport
A road is an identifiable route of travel, usually surfaced with gravel, asphalt or
concrete and supporting land passage by foot or by a number of vehicles.
Types of vehicles:
India is a unique country and has a variety of Commercial Vehicles, some are built in
the unorganised sector in the local garages and some are built by global manufacturers. This
thread will have a mix of all types of Commercial vehicles and all forms of Road
transportation found in India. Indian Commercial vehicles are one of the most colourful
vehicles in the World. The designs of Commercial Vehicles changes from places to places, a
truck built in South India will differ from the truck built in North India on various aspects of
design,colour,etc.,
This thread is dedicated to all types of Commercial Vehicles & all types of Road
Transportation found in India:

Trucks - Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV)

Trucks - Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV)

Truck Trailers

Heavy Haulage Trucks

Off Road Trucks

Special Trucks

Tractors

Small Commercial Vehicle (SCV)

Vans & Maxi Cabs

Taxi - Cars & MUV's(Jeeps)

Three Wheelers - Auto's

Jugaad, Chakda

Bullock carts & Tanga

Rules and regulation of road transport:

The Rules Of The Road Regulations,1989 was brought into effect from July 1, 1989.
It serves as a basic guide for the driver showcasing the rules which he has to follow while on
the roads. It deals with basic facts such as overtaking, traffic signals, towing, speed limits, the
necessary documents to be carried while driving and such other neglected but imperative
points nonetheless.

Keep left:
The driver of a motor vehicle shall drive the vehicle as close to the left side of
the road as may be expedient and shall allow all traffic which is proceeding in the
opposite direction to pass on his right hand side.

Turning to the left and right:

The driver of a motor vehicle shall:
When turning to the left, drive as close as maybe to theleft hand side of the
road from which he is making the turn and of the road which he is entering.
When turning to the right draw as near as near as may be to the centre of the
road which the driver is entering.

Passing to the right:

Except as provided in regulation 5, the driver of a motor vehicle
shall pass to the right of all traffic proceeding in the same direction as
himself.

Passing to the Left:

The driver of a motor vehicle may pass to the left of a vehicle, the driver of
which having indicated an intention to turn to the right has drawn to the centre of the
road and may pass on either side, a tram car or other vehicle running on fixed rails
whether travelling in the same direction as himself or otherwise provided that in no

case shall he pass a tram car at a time or in a manner likely to cause danger or
inconvenience to other users of the road including persons leaving or about to enter
tram cars.

Overtaking prohibited in certain cases:

The driver of a motor vehicle shall not pass a vehicle travelling in the same
direction as himself:
1. If his passing is likely to pass inconvenience or danger to other traffic
proceding in any direction
2. If he is near a point, a bend or corner or a hill or other obstructionof any kind
that renders the road ahead not clearly visible
3. If he knows that the driver who is following him has not signalled that he may
be overtaken.

Overtaking not to be obstructed:

The driver of a motor vehicle shall not, when being overtaken or being passed
by another vehicle, increse speed or do anything in any way to prevent the other
vehicle from passing him.

Caution at road junction:

The driver of a motor vehicle shall slow down when approaching a road
intersection, a road junction, pedestrian crossing or a road corner, and shall not enter
any such intersection, junction or crossing until he has become aware that he may do
so without endangering the safety of persons thereon.

Giving way to traffic at road junction:

The driver of a motor vehicle shall, on entering a road interjection at which
traffic is not being regulated, if the road entered is a main road designated as such,
give way to the vehicles proceeding along the road, and in any other case give way to
all traffic approaching to the intersection on his right hand.

Right of way:
Pedestrians have the right of way at uncontrolled pedestrian crossings. When
any road is provided with a footpath or cycletrack especially for other traffic, except
with permission of a police officer in uniform, a driver shall not drive on such
footpath or track.

Advantages of road transport:

1. Less Capital Outlay:

Road transport required much less capital Investment as compared to other modes of
transport such as railways and air transport. The cost of constructing, operating and
maintaining roads is cheaper than that of the railways. Roads are generally constructed by the
government and local authorities and only a small revenue is charged for the use of roads.
2. Door to Door Service:
The outstanding advantage of road transport is that it provides door to door or
warehouse to warehouse service. This reduces cartage, loading and unloading expenses.
3. Service in Rural Areas:
Road transport is most suited for carrying goods and people to and from rural areas
which are not served by rail, water or air transport. Exchange of goods, between large towns
and small villages is made possible only through road transport.
4. Flexible Service:
Road transport has a great advantage over other modes of transport for its flexible
service, its routes and timings can be adjusted and changed to individual requirements
without much inconvenience.
5. Suitable for Short Distance:
It is more economic and quicker for carrying goods and people over short distances.
Delays in transit of goods on account of intermediate loading and handling are avoided.
Goods can be loaded direct into a road vehicle and transported straight to their place of
destination.
6. Lesser Risk of Damage in Transit:
As the intermediate loading and handling is avoided, there is lesser risk of damage,
breakage etc. of the goods in transit. Thus, road transport is most suited for transporting
delicate goods like chinaware and glassware, which are likely to be damaged in the process of
loading and unloading.
7. Saving in Packing Cost:
As compared to other modes of transport, the process of packing in motor transport is
less complicated. Goods transported by motor transport require less packing or no packing in
several cases.
8. Rapid Speed:

If the goods are to be sent immediately or quickly, motor transport is more suited than
the railways or water transport. Water transport is very slow. Also much time is wasted in
booking the goods and taking delivery of the goods in case of railway and water transport.
9. Less Cost:
Road transport not only requires less initial capital investment, the cost of operation
and maintenance is also comparatively less. Even if the rate charged by motor transport is a
little higher than that by the railways, the actual effective cost of transporting goods by motor
transport is less. The actual cost is less because the motor transport saves in packing costs and
the expenses of intermediate loading, unloading and handling charges.
10. Private Owned Vehicles:
Another advantage of road transport is that big businessmen can afford to have their
own motor vehicles and initiate their own road services to market their products without
causing any delay.
11. Feeder to other Modes of Transport:
The movement of goods begins and ultimately ends by making use of roads. Road and motor
transport act as a feeder to the other modes of transport such as railways, ships and airways.
Disadvantages of road transport:
1. Seasonal Nature:
Motor transport is not as reliable as rail transport. During rainy or flood season, roads
become unfit and unsafe for use.
2. Accidents and Breakdowns:
There are more chances of accidents and breakdowns in case of motor transport. Thus,
motor transport is not as safe as rail transport.
3. Unsuitable for Long Distance and Bulky Traffic:
This mode of transport is unsuitable and costly for transporting cheap and bulky
goods over long distances.
4. Slow Speed:
The speed of motor transport is comparatively slow and limited.
5. Lack of Organisation:

The road transport is comparatively less organised. More often, it is irregular and
undependable. The rates charged for transportation are also unstable and unequal.
Ways of road used:
There are four ways of road used in India for transportation namely,
Expressways:
Expressways make up approximately 1,208 km (751 mi) of India's road network,
as of 2013. These high-speed roads are four-lane or six-lane, predominantly access
controlled. expressways in use are:

Greater Noida Agra Yamuna Expressway (165 kilometres)

Ahmedabad Vadodara Expressway (95 kilometres

Mumbai-Pune Expressway (93 kilometres)

Jaipur-Kishangarh Expressway (90 kilometres)

Allahabad Bypass Expressway (86 kilometres)

Durgapur Expressway (65 kilometres)

National Highways:
The main highways running through the length and breadth of the country connecting
major ports, state capitals, large industrial and tourist centres, etc. National Highways in India
are designated as NH followed by the highway number. Indian national highways are further
classified based on the width of carriageway of the highway.
State Highways:
The State Highways provide linkages with the National Highways, district
headquarters, important towns, tourist centres and minor ports and carry the traffic along
major centres within the state. These arterial routes provide connectivity to important towns
and cities within the state with National Highways or State Highways of the neighbouring
states. Their total length is about 137,712 km.
The Ministry of State for Surface Transport in India administers the national highway
system, and state highways and other state roads are maintained by state public works
departments. The central and state governments share responsibilities for road building and
maintaining Indian roads. These state highways range from 2-lane, all season highways to 6lane, divided, access controlled expressways.
Rural and urban roads:

These are important roads within a district connecting areas of production with
markets and connecting these with each other or with the State Highways & National
Highways. It also connects Taluka headquarters and rural areas to District headquarters
within the state. The rural roads in India forms a substantial portion of the Indian road
network. These roads are in poor shape, affecting the rural population's quality of life and
Indian farmer's ability to transfer produce to market post-harvest. Over 30 percent of Indian
farmer's harvest spoils post-harvest because of the poor infrastructure. Many rural roads are
of poor quality, potholed, and unable to withstand the loads of heavy farm equipment. These
roads are also far from all season, good quality 2-lane or 4-lane highways, making economic
resource flow slow, and logistical costs between different parts of India one of the highest in
the world.