The transportation industry relies upon three modes of transport routes that is land, sea or air. Companies usually employ a cost-effective approach of all three or at least two of these routes for global transport. For instance, heavy-lift transport involving millions of billions worth of equipment or machinery needs to be transported as a whole. Another seemingly huge hindrance as posed by air cargo is security threats.
The challenge usually is that this equipment and machinery cannot be broken down into components or parts to be easily transported. It has to be transported as a whole. Thus, companies usually involve two transport modules if the process is based internationally or globally.
Air transport is considered as the fastest route for transport but is also the most expensive. There are various challenges faced when transport route usually involves air module. Looking at the recent economic and global outlook there has been a surge and increase in fuel prices. This poses a challenge as this increases operating costs for transport companies creating a huge hindrance in targeting new markets or clients.
Clients looking to deliver their cargo promptly may consider sending goods via air may be fast but this choice may cost a lot. With such an increase in fuel prices, airline companies are now expanding by providing a particular array of services that ensure better cost flexibility.
The strategy is to charge costs or prices according to services selected by the transport company. In this way, companies incur the low cost and deliver the goods on time. However, this strategy comes with its own limitations that are the stand-alone services cater to particular distances according to fuel and mileage. Thus, this service better caters to national locations.
Countries with strict or rigid regulations require extensive screening time for goods that are received from an international destination. This also gives rise to unexpected delays in the delivery of goods. Also, inspection and clearance may take up to days. Thus clients and companies alike pursue other means of transport modules via land or sea. Usually, heavy-lift transport companies may incorporate land routes with experienced drivers a better option.
With technological advancement companies now have a specialized fleet of vehicles or low bed trailers that caters equipment or machinery weighing thousands of tons and exceeding a height or width of more than 100 meters. Also, expanding to air routes and airplanes module requires huge investment, infrastructure platforms, and experienced personnel.
Air cargo industry is usually considered the most sensitive to global rate fluctuations, consumer behavior, and regulatory environment. However, the air cargo industry ensues a stronger historical performance. Usually, global trade involves air cargo one way or the other, Thus companies and government alike posit the need to minimize vulnerability and improve overall transparency in the process involved.
The Air cargo industry supposedly helps in delivering a variety of goods involved. Including heavy capital intensive equipment such as medical equipment. Secondly, perishable goods which are sensitive to temperature and needs to be transported on certain temperature settings, for instance, pharmaceuticals or chemicals. Moreover, Transport companies also employ air cargo when the goods or cargo to be delivered is time-sensitive, a variable that contributes the most towards an effective transaction.
Also, the air cargo industry heavily relies on goods with a short life cycle or trend. Usually, products catering to a short-lived trend need to be delivered quickly and such goods are usually catered by fashion or entertainment industries.
However, certain developments in the air cargo industry are now being ensued. Factors such as the economy play a huge role. Air cargo industry hugely benefits from globalization and emerging markets. Secondly, companies are somehow investing in the whole research and development in air transport modules and looking forward to investing in the infrastructure.
The government is also working towards regulating political stability to ensure a smoother flow of operations and mobility across international borders. Some environmental restrictions and regulations also posit some challenges including the emission of greenhouse gas and likewise air and noise pollution. Location is another challenge that affects the air cargo industry.
However, the air cargo industry is still an integral part of the transportation sector as well as trading communities. The fact that companies and governing bodies are working towards a cost-effective and cumulative solution indicates promising growth in the future.
