1.

1 INTRODUCTION TO TRANSPORTATION

From the beginning of history, human sensitivity has revealed an urge for mobility
leading to a measure of Society's progress. The history of this mobility or transport is the
history of civilization. For any country to develop with right momentum modern and
efficient Transport as a basic infrastructure is a must. It has been seen throughout the
history of any nation that a proper, extensive and efficient Road Transport has played a
major role. ‘Transporters' perform one of the most important activities, at every stage of
advanced civilization. Where roads are considered as veins and arteries of a nation,
passenger and goods transported are likened to blood in circulation. Passenger Road
Transport Service (PRTS) is an essential connected to the economic development.
Transport is the essential convenience with which people not just connect but progress.
Throughout history, people's progress has been sustained on the convenience, speed
and safety of the modes of transport. Road transport occupies a primary place in to-day's
world as it provides a reach unparallel by any other contemporary mode of transport.

1.2 TRANSPORT
Transport (British English) or transportation (American English) is the movement of
people and goods from one place to another. The term is derived from the Latin trans
("across") and portare ("to carry").

1.3 FUNCTIONS OF TRANSPORT

1. Transport contributes in Growth of industries whose product requires quick

2. Transport helps in increase in the demand for goods. Through transport newer
customers in newer places can be easily contacted and products can be introduced to
them. Today markets have become national or international only because of transport.

3. Transport creates place utility. Geographical and climatic factors force industries to
be located in particular places far away from the markets and places where there may
not be any demand for the products. Transport bridges the gap between production and
consumption centers.

4. Transport creates time utility. Of late transport has started creating the time utility
also. It has been made possible by virtue of the improvements in the speed of transport.
It helps the product to be distributed in the minimum possible time.

5. Transport helps in stabilization of price. Transport exerts considerable influence

6. Transport ensures even flow of commodities into the hands of the consumers
through out the period of consumption.

7. Transport enables the consumers to enjoy the benefits of goods not produced
locally. This increases the standard of living, an essential factor for further development
of marketing and economy.
8. Transport identifies competition, which in turn, reduces pries. Prices are also
reduced because of the facilities offered by transport for large-scale production.
Advantages op large-scale production is possible only due to transport.

9. Transport increases mobility of labor and capital. It makes people of one place
migrate to other places in search of jobs. Even capital, machineries and equipments are
imported from foreign countries through transport alone.

1.4 MEANS OF TRANSPORT

The means of transport are classified on the basis of the way, the vehicle, the
motive power used and terminals.

Chart 1.1
Means of Transport

1. LAND TRANSPORT
Land Transport may be classified as
Pathways:

In remote villages, forest and hilly areas pathways are still an important amongst the
different modes of transport. It further be subdivided into Head loads (is also known as
human transport. It is used in the hilly areas where even animals cannot reach) and Pack
animals (is also known as animal transport. It is used in the backward areas. The
animals like horse, pony,donkey, ass, buffaloes, camel, elephant, yak, sheep etc. are
used for this purpose.

Roadways:

Road Transport is one of the most important modes of transport. The history of Road
Transport started from ancient civilizations. Gradually it becomes more and more
polpular means of transport. Road Transport further subdivided into Vehicular Transport
(Cars, Trucks, Buses, Lorries, Autoricksaws, Bullock Carts, Tongas, Tumtums, and Hand
Carts etc.) and Non-vehicular Transport (Hamals, Animals like Camel, Dogs, Elephant,
Horse, Mules etc.)

Tramways:

Tramway is one of the cheaper, longer, quicker and safer modes of Land Transport
which is suitable in large cities. However due to certain limitations like slowly ness, huge
investment, inflexibility etc. gradually it replaced by other means of Land Transport.

Railways:

Railway has been the pioneer of modern mechanical transport. It has brought the
greatest revolution in transport. It accelerated commercial and industrial development of
various countries

2. WATER TRANSPORT

Water transport is the cheapest and the oldest form of transport for heavy goods and
bulk cargoes. Waterways are the natural gifts, hence it does not required large amount of
capital expenditure for the construction of road and railway tracks, except canal
transport, as in the case of land transport. In addition to that the cost of running is also
very less. Water transport may be classified as under:

Chart 1.3
Modes of Water Transport

A INLAND WATERWAYS

Inland waterways may be subdivided into

River Transport:
Rivers are the water highways given by nature. River Transport is suitable for small
boats and steamers. It was highly developed in the pre-railway days. But with the
development of railways, river transport was neglected and decayed gradually.

Canal Transport:
Canals are the artificial waterways constructed for the purpose of navigation and
irrigation.

B OCEAN TRANSPORT

Ocean Transport or shipping may be subdivided into

Coastal Shipping:
Coastal shipping is a cheaper, speedy, flexible and economical form of transport for the
movement of bulky and heavy cargoes. Usually coastal shipping trade is reserved for the
national shipping.

Overseas Shipping:

On the basis of their working, overseas shipping may be divided into The Liner (those
ships which follow defined routes with fixed places and fixed time table), The Tramps
(those ships which have no set routes or fixed time table) and The Oil Tanker (special
sea carriers of crude oil in very large quantity). The Liners may again be subdivided into
Passenger Liners and the Cargo Liners.
3. AIR TRANSPORT

Air transport is the gift of twentieth century to the world. It is the latest means of
transport. The first flight in the air was made in 1903.only for twelve seconds.
Successfully it was used as a means of transport after the First World War (1914-1918).
The first air service was started in 1919 between London and Paris. Since then it has
made notable progress and provide tough competition to Railways. Air Transport can
again be subdivided into passenger and cargo.

Chart 1.4
Means of Air Transport

1.

HOMEWORK 1

1. Road Transport in CAMEROON (national roads, secondary roads tarred