7 Transportation and Logistics Free Online FlashCards

How do transportation and logistics differ?

Transportation moves goods through a supply chain; logistics coordinates that movement with purchasing, inventory, warehousing, order fulfillment, and customer needs.

What are a key strength and limitation of truck freight?

Trucks offer flexible routes and broad road access, making them useful for regional shipments and pickup or delivery legs. They can cost more per unit over long distances and face road congestion.

What information defines a shipment for freight planning?

Record the origin and destination, quantity, dimensions, weight, packaging, handling needs, and required delivery date. Identify special needs such as fragile, perishable, or hazardous goods.

How does a freight broker differ from a carrier?

A carrier transports freight. A freight broker or third-party logistics provider may arrange transportation with one or more carriers.

How does schedule coordination support freight movement?

Logistics partners align supplier readiness, carrier pickup, terminal cutoffs, warehouse hours, and customer appointments. Clear handoffs and milestone updates help prevent missed connections and manage exceptions.

When is rail freight useful, and what can limit it?

Rail is efficient for large volumes and long-distance land transport, but it requires rail access and often truck transfers; its routes and schedules are less flexible.

What trade-off characterizes water freight?

Water transport offers high capacity and generally low cost per unit for heavy or bulky freight. It is usually slower and depends on ports or navigable waterways.

Why choose air freight, despite its limitations?

Air freight is fast over long distances and suits urgent or time-sensitive goods, but it is usually expensive and has capacity, size, weight, and handling limits.

What freight is suited to pipelines?

Pipelines continuously move large volumes of suitable products, such as petroleum and natural gas, with few handling steps. Their routes are fixed.

What makes containerized intermodal transport distinct?

Intermodal transportation combines modes, often ship, rail, and truck. Containers can transfer between modes without unpacking the goods, but the handoffs require coordination.

What service requirements should freight planners set?

Set the delivery window, acceptable transit-time variation, tracking needs, and consequences of delay. A narrow window may justify faster or more dependable service at a higher rate.

What belongs in total logistics cost?

Include the freight rate plus pickup and delivery, surcharges, terminal handling, transfers, insurance, warehousing, inventory tied up in transit, and possible loss or damage.