Transportation: A Global Supply Chain Perspective 9th Edition

Book Preface

Transportation is the critical link in successful supply chains. It is a key facilitator of global economic development, quality of life improvement, and enterprise success. Effective transportation processes ensure the rapid flow of essential goods across complex global supply chains. Efficient transportation operations keep delivery costs in check to ensure that products are affordable in multiple markets.
Transportation professionals are tasked with balancing these effectiveness and effi-ciency goals. They must also manage complex transportation networks and minimize disruptions of cross-border product flows to meet the ever-increasing service demands of the 21st century customer. While these are not easy tasks, high-quality work by dedicated transportation professionals is essential for global trade to

thrive.
In this book, Transportation: A Global Supply Chain Perspective, Ninth Edition, we continue to focus on the widespread impact of commercial transportation on worldwide commerce. We believe that the contents of this book will help future transportation professionals prepare for successful careers in this dynamic field. Our text follows the format of the previous edition with three sections and thirteen chapters. Substantive additions and revisions have been made to enhance the content and organization. In particular, the critical role of technology in global transportation receives special attention in this edition.

Part I provides the foundation for the overall text. Chapter 1 explores the nature, importance, and critical issues in the global economy, which are important to understand for the current and future transportation systems. Chapter 2 provides the economic foundation and rationale for the role of transportation as well as its political and social importance. Chapter 3 highlights the expanding role of technology in transportation, addressing both soſtware and equipment innovations that drive greater service and lower costs. Chapter 4 offers a discussion of transportation costing and pricing in a market-based economy.

Part II provides an overview of the major transportation alternatives available to individual and organizational users. Chapters 5 through 8 discuss and examine the key features and issues of the five basic modes of transportation, namely, motor (5), rail (6), airline (7), water and pipeline (8). Each of the basic modes offers inherent advantages for shippers of particular commodities or locations that need to be appreciated and understood to gain the economic benefits they offer. The dynamic market environment that exists in many economies demands continuous improvement of modal capabilities if they are to remain relevant.

The chapters in Part III cover a variety of important issues related to the successful management of transportation flows. Each of the five chapters in this section have been updated and revised to further improve their value to the readers. Chapter 9 supplements the information provided in Part II with a detailed discussion of logistics service providers that support the transportation industry. These organizations improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and execution of global supply chain flows. Chapter 10 discusses the topic of risk management, a key concern for many organizations because of the increasing threat of supply chain disruptions in the global economy. Strategies, methods, and outcomes for risk management are explored as well as overall security enhancement. Chapter 11 provides an in-depth discussion of the planning and execution of global transportation with emphasis on trade facilitation, product flows, and information sharing. Chapter 12 covers the all-important role of government policy, regulation, and promotion in fostering a strong transportation network. Finally, Chapter 13 explores some of the major challenges for transportation in the 21st century, namely, infrastructure funding needs, talent management gaps, environmental sustainability, and fuel management. Each issue threatens to disrupt transportation flows, reduce competitiveness, and increase costs if not managed proactively.

Overall, we are convinced that transportation is a critical engine for business growth and societal advancement, but is oſten taken for granted until a crisis arises. As stated previously, it may be the most important industry for all economies regardless of their stage of development. Such recognition needs to be accorded to transportation in the future.