Road transportation is used extensively in developed countries where there is an established road network. It consist of a range of vehicles from articulated lorries to small vans and cars or even bicycles.
Table 3 identifies the strengths and weaknesses of road transportation
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Cost-effective | Environmental impact |
| Capable of long and short distance journeys | Limited by size of vehicles |
| Can provide quick, scheduled deliveries | Can be affected by adverse weather conditions |
| Flexible with capability to support most collection and delivery points providing door-to-door service | Can be affected by and contributes towards road congestion |
| Easy to track | |
| Minimal handling of goods – e.g. no need for packing into container | |
| Easy to track and trace |
Table 3: The Strengths and Weaknesses of Road Transportation
The most common vehicles used to transport goods by road are Articulated Lorries (Artics). These consist of a tractor unit with a turn-table device which can be linked to a trailer. Artics have different types of trailers, including:
- Flatbed trailer- used for almost any type of freight, but goods need to be protected from the elements and theft
- Tilt trailer – like a flatbed trailer, but with a removable PVC canopy
- Curtain-sider – the mainstay of road haulage, this has a rigid roof and rear doors. The sides are PVC curtains that can be drawn back for easy loading
- Box trailer – an entirely rigid unit, with loading through back doors. A secure option for valuable goods
- Road train – a rigid vehicle at the front, which pulls a trailer behind it
- Swap-body system – built to accommodate standard cargo containers. Allows containers to be swiftly transferred during intermodal transport
- Low-loaders – often used for transporting heavy machinery and other outsize goods. Set low to the ground for easy loading
- Vans – frequently used to transport smaller cargoes shorter distances. Appropriate for “Last Mile Logistics”, transporting goods on the last leg of a journey to the point of consumption
The most common types of road transport are illustrated in Figure 1:
Figure 1
All deliveries by road should include a Bill of Lading (BOL) with basic information about the shipment such as a description and estimated weight, provided by the shipper. The BOL is also used when the freight is transported over international borders and is presented to customs officials for inspection.