ADVANTANGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION
RAIL TRANSPORTATION
ADVANTAGES:
 High Speed over Long Distances:
Its speed over long distances is more than any
other mode of transport, except airways.
Thus, it is the best choice for long distance
traffic.
 Suitable for Bulky and Heavy Goods:
Railway transport is economical, quicker and
best suited for carrying heavy and bulky goods
over long distances.
 Dependable:
The greatest advantage of the railway
transport is that it is the most dependable
mode of transport as it is the least affected by
weather conditions such as rains, fog etc.
compared to other modes of transport.
DISADVANTAGES:
 Huge Capital Outlay:
The railway requires is large investment of
capital. The cost of construction, maintenance
and overhead expenses are very high as
compared to other modes of transport.
 Lack of Flexibility:
Another disadvantage of railway transport is
its inflexibility. Its routes and timings cannot
be adjusted to individual requirements.
 Lack of Door to Door Service:
Rail transport cannot provide door to door
service as it is tied to a particular track.
Intermediate loading or unloading involves
greater cost, more wear and tear and wastage
of time.
 AIR TRANSPORTATION
ADVANTAGES:
 High Speed:
It is the fastest mode of transport and therefore
suitable for carriage of goods over a long
distance. It require less time.
 Quick Service:
Air transport provides comfortable, efficient and
quick transport services. It is regarded as best
mode of transport for transporting perishable
goods.
 No Infrastructure Investment:
Air transport does not give emphasis on
construction of tracks like railways. As no capital
investment in surface track is needed, it is a less
costly mode of transport.
DISADVANTAGES:
 Risky:
Air transport is the most risky form of transport
because a minor accident may put a substantial
loss to the goods, passengers and the crew. The
chances of accidents are greater in comparison
to other modes of transport.
 Very Costly:
Air transport is considered costlier as compare
to other mode of transport. The operating cost
of aero-planes are higher and it involves a great
deal of expenditure on the construction of
aerodromes and aircraft. Because of this reason
the fare of air transport are high that common
people can’t afford it.
 Small Carrying Capacity:
The aircrafts have small carrying capacity and
therefore these are not suitable for carrying
bulky and cheaper goods. The load capacity
cannot be increased as it is found in case of
rails.
 ROAD TRANSPORTATION
ADVANTAGES:
 Less Capital Outlay:
A relatively much lower capital Investment is
required in road transport, compared to other
modes of transport such as railways and air
transport which are much costlier.
 Door to Door Service:
The greatest advantage of road transport, that
makes it the core lifeline of the transport
industry, is its ability to provide door-to-door,
from source to destination, warehouse-
towarehouse, doorstep services.
 Service in Rural Areas:
Road transport is most flexible and adaptable
with an outreach into the most remote areas
that are inaccessible by rail, air or water. Hence,
road transport is most suited for carrying goods
and people to and from rural areas which are not
served by rail, water or air transport.
DISADVANTAGES:
 Vulnerable to Season and Weather
Impacts:
Road transport infrastructure and travel is
vulnerable to weather changes and seasons. For
instance, during rains or floods, roads become
unfit and unsafe for use
 Accidents and Breakdowns:
There is definitely a high risk of accidents and
breakdowns in case of road transport. This
makes motor transport not a very predictable or
safe option, as compared to rail transport.
 3. Not the Best Option for Long
Distance and Heavy Cargo:
Road transport is not very suitable for
transporting low priced and heavy cargo over
long distances as it proves to be expensive.
 OCEAN TRANSPORTATION
ADVANTAGES:
 Cost Efficiency:
Ocean freight is much cheaper than air freight.
Companies that offer these services give access
to many cost-effective shipping means for
various products.
 Highly Suitable For Heavy Goods:
The companies that are importing really heavy
goods like industrial parts, automobiles and
machineries cannot really use air freight because
airplanes will not be able to transport a lot of
weight at the same time.
 Environmentally Friendly:
An airplane ends up consuming much fuel during
transport, leaving a really large carbon footprint.
This can be quite harmful for the environment.
Due to carbon emissions we are now faced with
increased temperatures all around the world.
DISADVANTAGES:
 Slow Speed:
It is a slow means of transport. Failure of
monsoon results into fall in the water level of
rivers making navigation difficult.
 More Risky:
Water transport is more risky as compared to
other means because there is always danger of
sinking ships or boats.
 Lack of Infrastructure:
Certain parts of the world might not have the
facilities of ports and terminals and can
therefore not receive large ships carrying
containers. Usually, a significant amount of
capital expenditure is essential to handle
container based networks.