question archive Original Forum Intermodal supply within the transport demand function can vary according to the nature of what is being transported, such as passengers, freight, and information
Original Forum Intermodal supply within the transport demand function can vary according to the nature of what is being transported, such as passengers, freight, and information
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Original Forum
Intermodal supply within the transport demand function can vary according to the nature of what is being transported, such as passengers, freight, and information. This is about supply and demand. For all 3 modes, what are some of the criteria or attributes of these functions that could cause the transportation to vary? Use some simple examples from your experience to answer this question and not just list items from the text.
Student Response
Neil
Good afternoon everyone. I hope you all had a great week and weekend. This is a great topic of discussion for this week. I have worked in the transportation field for the last 18 years in the Army. We have been responsible for transporting both passengers and freight for various reasons. The most important movement that we are responsible for coordinating is for a deployment. We have to move over 4K Soldiers and their equipment from a base in the U.S. to an operating base overseas. This movement is very complex because there are many determining factors in the modes of transportation needed. The passengers leaving the base will fly commercial from the base to a location in Kuwait. Once in Kuwait, Soldiers will fly by military transport to their final destination. The cargo is the complicated movement because of the different modes it takes to move the cargo from fort to port and then the port to the end-user.
This whole process starts at the unit level with determining the size container needed to ship their items. Once that is determined, then trucks are ordered to move those items from the installation staging area to the port. Those containers are then loaded on a vessel which then goes to a port overseas. Once the vessel reaches the port, the containers are downloaded and loaded on either a truck for line-haul operations, or on a plane. The mode is determined based off the sensitivity of the items being shipped, and the timeliness in which it needs to arrive.
One of the biggest factors for transporting information would be the sensitivity of the information being sent. Should sensitive information be shared wirelessly or through a hard-wired system? Should it be sent over a phone, email, or in person? Information and data must be protected as much as possible. Internet hackers are trying to expose top secret information to try and gain the upper hand in military operations and research and development. Internet security is crucial in protecting our utilities especially power grids (Tang & Ding, 2021).
There are many different planning considerations in reference to intermodal supply. Are refrigerated containers needed to ship produce? Is it smart to ship produce on a vessel when they can be flown to prevent spoiling? These are just a few questions to answer when trying to determine how to ship goods. It is tricky at times, but so rewarding when goods and services are delivered on time and not damaged. Do you think weather is a planning consideration for transportation requirements to vary?
Reference
Tang, X., & Ding, C. (2021). Information Security Terminal Architecture of Power Transportation Mobile Internet of Things Based on Big Data Analysis. Wireless
Communications and Mobile Computing, 2021, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5544716
Cherelle
Working as a Logistics Specialist in the Army, for many deployments, my soldiers and I were responsible for packing and labeling containers in preparation for deployment. These containers would be shipped overseas via water transport. Often times, we would send equipment, office supplies, and additional personal items, if permitted. This was the primary way for us to send over our non-sensitive equipment and inventory safely. Vehicles being shipped overseas would be loaded up on the railhead in preparation to be transported via rail/train. The size and quantity of vehicles that our battalion would send overseas made rail the most viable option. The individuals in transportation had the responsibility of transporting hundreds of soldiers via airplane to their tour of duty. For most of my deployments, I’ve flew commercially; however, traveling within a foreign country or visiting another country to attend a leadership course, transportation was often coordinated for personnel to fly on military aircraft for security purposes. I’ve had many instances while working in motor pools, as well as in warehouses, where transporting freight was done by trucks. We would schedule pickups using various vehicles, HMMWVs, LMTVs, or flatbed trailers, depending on the size or bulk of the freight. As far as information, we’ve communicated via technology in order to transmit information. A CAISI (Combat Service Support Automated Information System Interface) and a CSS VSAT (Combat Service Support Very Small Aperture Terminal) were often used to securely establish safe networks to create a secure line for the use of emailing, telephone communication, and for daily operational purposes.
