These new technologies EDI, the Internet, and the World Wide Web are making the management of all forms of trade, both domestic and international, easier through improved logistics and supply-chain management. This along with other new transportation technologies,GPS (global positioning systems) and ITS (intelligent transportation systems) is making it easier for firms to have components and goods shipped from distant points on the globe, where costs are lower, to arrive “just-in-time” at assembly sites and distribution centers around the world.
5. NEXT SLIDE Centroid Shifts and Changes in Global Transportation Patterns
As manufacturers move to lower labor cost regions as a result of a product's life cycle maturing in one location, we see new trade and transportation routes developing. Most recently there has been a shift in the location of manufacturing centers from East Asia to South East Asia. These shifts show the impact on transportation routes, regions, and ports throughout the world.
6. NEXT SLIDE Reverse Cargo Flows
The new era of global commerce and structural change is altering these patterns. The flows to ports on the West Coast are changing as well as the routes through the Panama and Suez canals. Much of the trade that impacts the U.S, economy and its transportation system has its origin and destination in Asia.
7. NEXT SLIDE THE INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
There are six basic modes in an intermodal transportation system air, marine, rail, truck, pipeline, and lastly space. Freight moving on the different modes (sea,truck, rail, air, and pipe) often switch between these modes. The name for this is “intermodalism” and its growth goes back to the innovation and emergence of containers and double-stacked rail cars. These provide the greatest number of revenue loads for a given train length saving fuel and labor costs.
