What’s So Special About Road Transportation?
When you think of shipping freight, what comes to mind? Is it a container ship sailing across the ocean, or a trucker driving an 18-wheeler down a busy highway hauling goods? For most, it’s the latter.
We see trucks on the road every day, and while we may not think much of it, those trucks are what keep supply chains running efficiently. Road freight is the backbone of the shipping industry, responsible for not only transporting goods long distances but for final mile delivery, too.
Road transportation has a rich history and has evolved into an indispensable mode that offers numerous benefits when it comes to delivering freight.
In the fourth and final installment of our transportation series, we go on a journey to answer the question of one of the most popular modes of shipping: what’s so special about road transportation?
The Rise of Road Transportation
Road transportation is the earliest form of transportation, dating back centuries to ancient times. Roads were rudimentary dirt paths that connected towns, with goods being hauled on animals like horses, camels, and oxen before wheeled carts appeared around 3500 B.C. in Mesopotamia.
During the Roman Empire, stone-paved roads were built, dramatically improving freight transportation.
During the Industrial Revolution, Europe and the United States widely adopted macadamized roads, which were designed for durability, smoothness, and adequate drainage. In the early 1900s, crushed stone was combined with tar, creating what is now known as the modern roadway.
Although road transportation is one of the oldest forms of moving goods, it wasn’t until the early 20th century, after roadways were better developed, that it truly began to flourish.
The 1920s are often regarded as the beginning of the trucking industry, marked by numerous innovations and improvements. This decade saw the creation of semi-trailers and more efficient diesel engines, as well as the standardization of truck sizes, propelling the future of goods transportation.
Following World War II, the creation of the U.S. Interstate Highway System revolutionized domestic logistics by enabling freight trucking to become the dominant mode of transportation. The new highways provided shippers with efficient, direct access to cities nationwide.
Over the past 40 years, technology has undergone significant improvements, with the trucking industry utilizing GPS, fleet management systems, and even autonomous vehicle research. Today, trucks are much faster, cleaner, and overall more efficient.
The Unique Characteristics of Road Freight
Currently, road freight handles the majority of inland goods transport worldwide – making it an indispensable mode of transportation.
Trucks offer a wide range of flexibility and versatility, not only in terms of what goods can be transported but also in terms of where they can be transported. Trucks can carry a variety of cargo, from perishables to hazardous materials, and depending on the amount, there are different types of services.
Two man types of services offer flexibility. Full truckload (FTL) allows shippers to use a full truck trailer and reduces the risk of damage to goods in transit, which is especially crucial for fragile products.
Less-than-truckload (LTL) allows shippers to utilize only the space they need in a trailer. LTL especially creates efficiency in the supply chain, allowing multiple types of freight to be transported to various locations all in one journey.
Trucks can also access rural areas, urban centers, or construction sites where railways or airplanes may not be able to reach. Road transportation’s ability to access various types of locations makes it ideal for last-mile delivery – a crucial step in the supply chain.
Road transportation’s versatility extends far beyond the types of cargo it can carry or the destinations it can reach. Road transport can travel directly from origin to destination without the need for transfers between modes, making it ideal for short and medium distances, as well as last-mile delivery.
However, it can also seamlessly integrate with other modes of transportation – air, rail, and sea – if needed, making it an ideal option for multi-modal transport solutions as well.
Not only is road freight flexible and versatile, but it is actually necessary for Just-In-Time (JIT) Logistics, where small, frequent shipments, typically in manufacturing and retail industries, are needed on precise schedules. Trucks are used to transport their cargo efficiently.
Overall, road transportation is a simple, efficient, and effective means of transporting freight to its destination. Shippers simply need to load their freight onto a truck, and it’s off to its destination, avoiding the delays and complexities often associated with other modes, such as air and sea freight, which require multiple handling steps.
From ancient trade routes to the modern interstate highway system, road transportation has evolved into the most flexible and essential mode of freight shipping.
Its ability to provide access to remote and urban areas alike, offer door-to-door service, and transport a wide variety of cargo has ensured its role as a backbone of global supply chains.
As technology advances, industries continue to grow, and consumer expectations rise, the importance of road freight only becomes more apparent, providing efficient, adaptable, and reliable transportation.
