CHAPTER SEVEN
TRANSPORT
Transport is the physical movement of people and goods from one place to another. It helps bridge the gap between
producers and consumers hence creating place utility.
Importance of Transport to Business
1. Bridging the gap between producers and consumers/ linking consumers to producers-Transport links
consumers to producers which enable the consumers to obtain the goods they need.
2. Employment creation-Transport helps in solving unemployment problem by creating job opportunities. For
example, people may be employed as drivers, pilots, mechanics and road constructors.
3. Promotes specialization-Transport enables people to specialize in jobs they are best at. For example;
producers would concentrate in production only while other people carry out distribution.
4. Making goods and services more useful-Through transport goods are moved from a place where they are
least required to a place where they are most required thereby making them more useful.
5. Improving people’s standard of living-It enables consumers to get a variety of goods and services thereby
improving the standards of living.
6. Availing a wide market for products-It helps producers to widen the markets for their products by enabling
them access to areas they would otherwise not have accessed
7. Increased production/ facilitates mass production-Due to the wider market created through transport,
producers are able to increase the volume of goods produced.
8. Avoiding wastage-Transport makes it possible for surplus goods to be disposed of by taking them to areas
where they are required. Perishable goods such as flowers, fruits and vegetables can also be transported fast
hence minimizing/ avoiding wastage.
9. Promoting development of industries-Through transport, raw materials can be taken to manufacturing
industries and also finished goods to the market. Similarly, it promotes development of service industries
such as tourism.
10. Adds value to goods and services- creates utility in goods by moving them from the point of production to
where they are needed thereby adding their value.
11. Leads to the opening of new markets- Goods and services can be taken to new areas with ease.
12. It facilitates the movement of labour- people can easily move from where they stay to where they work.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF TRANSPORT
In order for a transport system to function efficiently it should have certain basic elements, these elements are:
1. Unit(S) of carriage
2. Methods of propulsion
3. Ways
4. Terminals(terminus)
A. Unit(S) of carriage
This refers to anything i.e. vessel that is used to transport goods and people from one place to another. Units of
carriage include: ships, trains, airplanes, motor vehicles, bicycles and carts. Units of carriage are also referred to as
means of transport.
b. Methods of propulsion
This is the driving force (source of power) that makes a unit of carriage to move. The power for most vessels may be
petroleum products, electricity, human force or animal power.
c. Ways
It refers to either the route or path passes by the vessel. The route can be on land, on water or through air. Examples
of ways are roads, railways, paths, canals, seaways and airways. The ways can be classified into either natural ways
or man made ways.
1. Natural ways-As the name suggests, natural ways are the ways that are provided by nature. They are
therefore free to acquire. They include airways and seaways.
2. Man-made ways-These are ways that are made available by human being. They include roads, canals and
railways. Man made ways are usually expensive to construct and maintain.
d. Terminals (terminuses)
COMMERCE COURSE NOTES CHAPTER 7 – INTRODUCTION TO TRANSPORT PREPARED BY MR. ANTONY AMBIA Page 1
, The vessel used to carry goods and people starts from one destination and ends up at another. At these destinations
the loading and off-loading take place respectively. The loading and off-loading places are referred to as terminals
or terminus. Examples of terminuses are bus stations, airports and seaports.
MODES OF TRANSPORT
Mode refers to the manner in which transport is carried out. There are three modes of transport namely:
1. Land transport
2. Water transport
3. Air transport
Land transport
This mode of transport involves movement of goods and people using units of carriage that move on dry land. The
various means under this mode includes:
Human Porterage
This involves human beings carrying goods on their heads, shoulders or backs. Human Porterage as a means of
transport is the oldest kind of transport and is still very common in our society. The means is suitable for
transporting light luggage over short distances. It is also appropriate where other means of transport are not available
or convenient.
Advantages of Human Porterage
1. Could be the only means of transport available
2. Compliments other means of transport
3. Flexible as it has no fixed time table or routes
4. May be a cheap means compared to other means of transport
5. Readily available when required
6. Convenient over short distances
Disadvantages of human Porterage
1. Not suitable for long distances
2. They add onto congestion on roads
3. Not suitable for transporting heavy and bulky goods
4. It is relatively slow
5. Relies on human energy which is exhaustible
Carts
Carts are open vessels usually on two or four wheels that are pushed or pulled by either human being or animals
such as oxen and donkeys. The carts pushed or pulled by human beings are referred to as hand carts or mikokoteni.
The ones pulled by animals, on the other hand, are called animal driven carts. Carts are used to carry relatively large
quantities compared to human Porterage. Like human Porterage, they are not suitable for long distances. Types of
goods that are transported using this means include, agricultural produce, water and animal feeds.
Advantages of carts
1. Compliments other means of transport
2. Relatively cheap to hire
3. Initial buying and maintenance cost is low
4. Appropriate in remote areas where other means are not available
5. Readily available for hire
6. Can carry fairly heavier and bulky goods
7. Convenient for transporting goods over short distances
Disadvantages of carts
1. May not be suitable for transporting heavy and bulky goods
2. Cause traffic jams on roads leading to congestion and accidents
3. Not suitable for transporting goods over long distances
Vehicles
These are means (units of carriage) of transport that ferry goods and people on roads. Vehicles are the most
commonly used means of transport.
Vehicles are either passenger or goods carriers. Passenger carriers may be buses, matatus, taxis and private cars
while goods are transported using Lorries, pick-ups, tankers and trailers. Vehicles are expensive to acquire and
maintain. The convenience of vehicles may depend on the nature of the road on which they travel.
Some roads are impassible especially when it rains while others are usable throughout the year (all weather
COMMERCE COURSE NOTES CHAPTER 7 – INTRODUCTION TO TRANSPORT PREPARED BY MR. ANTONY AMBIA Page 2
TRANSPORT
Transport is the physical movement of people and goods from one place to another. It helps bridge the gap between
producers and consumers hence creating place utility.
Importance of Transport to Business
1. Bridging the gap between producers and consumers/ linking consumers to producers-Transport links
consumers to producers which enable the consumers to obtain the goods they need.
2. Employment creation-Transport helps in solving unemployment problem by creating job opportunities. For
example, people may be employed as drivers, pilots, mechanics and road constructors.
3. Promotes specialization-Transport enables people to specialize in jobs they are best at. For example;
producers would concentrate in production only while other people carry out distribution.
4. Making goods and services more useful-Through transport goods are moved from a place where they are
least required to a place where they are most required thereby making them more useful.
5. Improving people’s standard of living-It enables consumers to get a variety of goods and services thereby
improving the standards of living.
6. Availing a wide market for products-It helps producers to widen the markets for their products by enabling
them access to areas they would otherwise not have accessed
7. Increased production/ facilitates mass production-Due to the wider market created through transport,
producers are able to increase the volume of goods produced.
8. Avoiding wastage-Transport makes it possible for surplus goods to be disposed of by taking them to areas
where they are required. Perishable goods such as flowers, fruits and vegetables can also be transported fast
hence minimizing/ avoiding wastage.
9. Promoting development of industries-Through transport, raw materials can be taken to manufacturing
industries and also finished goods to the market. Similarly, it promotes development of service industries
such as tourism.
10. Adds value to goods and services- creates utility in goods by moving them from the point of production to
where they are needed thereby adding their value.
11. Leads to the opening of new markets- Goods and services can be taken to new areas with ease.
12. It facilitates the movement of labour- people can easily move from where they stay to where they work.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF TRANSPORT
In order for a transport system to function efficiently it should have certain basic elements, these elements are:
1. Unit(S) of carriage
2. Methods of propulsion
3. Ways
4. Terminals(terminus)
A. Unit(S) of carriage
This refers to anything i.e. vessel that is used to transport goods and people from one place to another. Units of
carriage include: ships, trains, airplanes, motor vehicles, bicycles and carts. Units of carriage are also referred to as
means of transport.
b. Methods of propulsion
This is the driving force (source of power) that makes a unit of carriage to move. The power for most vessels may be
petroleum products, electricity, human force or animal power.
c. Ways
It refers to either the route or path passes by the vessel. The route can be on land, on water or through air. Examples
of ways are roads, railways, paths, canals, seaways and airways. The ways can be classified into either natural ways
or man made ways.
1. Natural ways-As the name suggests, natural ways are the ways that are provided by nature. They are
therefore free to acquire. They include airways and seaways.
2. Man-made ways-These are ways that are made available by human being. They include roads, canals and
railways. Man made ways are usually expensive to construct and maintain.
d. Terminals (terminuses)
COMMERCE COURSE NOTES CHAPTER 7 – INTRODUCTION TO TRANSPORT PREPARED BY MR. ANTONY AMBIA Page 1
, The vessel used to carry goods and people starts from one destination and ends up at another. At these destinations
the loading and off-loading take place respectively. The loading and off-loading places are referred to as terminals
or terminus. Examples of terminuses are bus stations, airports and seaports.
MODES OF TRANSPORT
Mode refers to the manner in which transport is carried out. There are three modes of transport namely:
1. Land transport
2. Water transport
3. Air transport
Land transport
This mode of transport involves movement of goods and people using units of carriage that move on dry land. The
various means under this mode includes:
Human Porterage
This involves human beings carrying goods on their heads, shoulders or backs. Human Porterage as a means of
transport is the oldest kind of transport and is still very common in our society. The means is suitable for
transporting light luggage over short distances. It is also appropriate where other means of transport are not available
or convenient.
Advantages of Human Porterage
1. Could be the only means of transport available
2. Compliments other means of transport
3. Flexible as it has no fixed time table or routes
4. May be a cheap means compared to other means of transport
5. Readily available when required
6. Convenient over short distances
Disadvantages of human Porterage
1. Not suitable for long distances
2. They add onto congestion on roads
3. Not suitable for transporting heavy and bulky goods
4. It is relatively slow
5. Relies on human energy which is exhaustible
Carts
Carts are open vessels usually on two or four wheels that are pushed or pulled by either human being or animals
such as oxen and donkeys. The carts pushed or pulled by human beings are referred to as hand carts or mikokoteni.
The ones pulled by animals, on the other hand, are called animal driven carts. Carts are used to carry relatively large
quantities compared to human Porterage. Like human Porterage, they are not suitable for long distances. Types of
goods that are transported using this means include, agricultural produce, water and animal feeds.
Advantages of carts
1. Compliments other means of transport
2. Relatively cheap to hire
3. Initial buying and maintenance cost is low
4. Appropriate in remote areas where other means are not available
5. Readily available for hire
6. Can carry fairly heavier and bulky goods
7. Convenient for transporting goods over short distances
Disadvantages of carts
1. May not be suitable for transporting heavy and bulky goods
2. Cause traffic jams on roads leading to congestion and accidents
3. Not suitable for transporting goods over long distances
Vehicles
These are means (units of carriage) of transport that ferry goods and people on roads. Vehicles are the most
commonly used means of transport.
Vehicles are either passenger or goods carriers. Passenger carriers may be buses, matatus, taxis and private cars
while goods are transported using Lorries, pick-ups, tankers and trailers. Vehicles are expensive to acquire and
maintain. The convenience of vehicles may depend on the nature of the road on which they travel.
Some roads are impassible especially when it rains while others are usable throughout the year (all weather
COMMERCE COURSE NOTES CHAPTER 7 – INTRODUCTION TO TRANSPORT PREPARED BY MR. ANTONY AMBIA Page 2
