Arrow Speed logistics offers complete
delivery services solutions By Air, Land, Intermodal/Rail Freight &
Ocean, from a small envelope to a skid, LTL or FTL To all across Canada,
USA & Worldwide
Arrow Speed Logistics is a Green Transportation
Company committed to creating Sustainable Transportation Solutions to
protect the environment. We are dedicated to reducing our client's
transportation costs and carbon footprint by utilizing the efficiencies
of existing fleets available and implementing Sustainable Transportation
Programs.
By adapting a Green Sustainability Program we are not only being
environmentally responsible, we save money for our clients and
ourselves.
Transportation infrastructure consists of the rights-of-ways, vehicles,
and carrier organizations that offer transportation services on a
for-hire or internal basis. The nature of the infrastructure also
determines a variety of legal and economic characteristics for each mode
or multi-modal system. A mode identifies the basic transportation
method or form.
Since olden times, railroads have handled the largest number of
ton-miles. As a result of the early establishment of a comprehensive
rail network connecting almost all the cities and towns, railways
dominated the intercity freight tonnage till World War II and in some
cases of Europe, Asia and Africa they even connected the countries. This
early superiority enabled railways to transport large shipments very
economically.
The capability to efficiently transport large tonnage over long
distances is the main reason railroads continue to handle significant
intercity tonnage and revenue. Railroad operations incur high fixed
costs because of expensive equipment, right-of-way (railroads must
maintain their own track), switching yards, and terminals. However, rail
experiences relatively low operating costs. The replacement of steam by
diesel power reduced the railroads' variable cost per ton-mile, and
electrification offers potential for more reductions. New labor
agreements have reduced workforce requirements, further decreasing
variable costs.
These days' rail transport only focuses on transporting specific
products, which are best, suited to the requirement. Greatest railroad
tonnage comes from raw material extractive industries located at
considerable distances. Despite problems, Rail fixed-variable costs are
still superior for long distances. Railroads basically concentrate on
the container traffic and are becoming more responsive of the customer
needs, emphasizing bulk industries and heavy manufacturing.
They have expanded their intermodal operations through alliances and
motor carrier ownership. Railroads are even concentrating on development
of special equipment. There are unit trains which are entire train
carrying the same commodity, which are bulk products such as coal or
grain. Unit trains are faster, less expensive to operate and quick as it
can bypass rail yards and go direct to the product's destination.
There are also various different types, such as articulated cars for
extended Rail chassis, double-stack rail cars, have 2 levels of
containers, thereby doubling the capacity of each car. It also reduces
chances of damage because of their design. These technologies have are
being applied by railroads to reduce weight, increase carrying capacity,
and facilitate interchange.
Highway transportation has increased rapidly since the end of World War
II. This is because Motor carrier industry results from door-to-door
operating flexibility and speed of intercity movement. They are even
flexible because they can operate on each and every kind of roadways.
In comparison to railroads, motor carriers have relatively small fixed
investments in terminal facilities and operate on publicly maintained
highways. Although the cost of license fees, user fees, and tolls are
considerable, these expenses are directly related to the number of
over-the-road units and miles operated.
The variable cost per mile for motor carriers is high because a separate
power unit and driver are required for each trailer or combination of
tandem trailers. Labor requirements are also high because of driver
safety restrictions and the need for substantial dock labor. Motor
carriers are best suited to handle small shipments moving short
distances.
The characteristics of motor carriers favor manufacturing and
distributive trades, short distances, and high-value products. Motor
carriers have made significant inroads into rail traffic for medium and
light manufacturing. This is also because of delivery flexibility, that
they have captured a major chunk of the market. In short, the prospect
for maintaining a stable market share in highway transport remains
bright.
It is the oldest mode of transportation. First it was the sailing
vessels, which was replaced by steamboats in early 1800's and by diesel
power in the 1920's.
Domestic water transportation – involves the Great Lakes, canals, and
navigable rivers. In every country, fewer system miles exist for inland
water than any other transportation mode.
The main advantage of water transportation is the capacity to move
extremely large shipments. Water transport employs 2 types of vessels.
Deep-water vessels, which are generally designed for Ocean and Great
Lakes use, & are restricted to deep-water ports for access. In
contrast, diesel-towed barges, which generally operate on rivers and
canals, have considerably more flexibility.
Water transport ranks between rail and motor carrier in the fixed cost
aspect. Although water carriers must develop and operate their own
terminals, the right-of-way is developed and maintained by the
government and results in moderate fixed costs as compared to railways
and highways.
The main disadvantage of water transport is the limited range of
operation and speed. Unless the origin and destination are adjacent,
supplement haul by rail or truck is required. The capability to carry
very high cargo at an extremely low variable cost places this mode of
transport in demand when low freight rates are desired and speed of
transit is a secondary consideration.
But, water transport on the other hand isn't all that flexible. Labor
restrictions on loading and unloading at docks create operational
problems and tend to reduce the potential range of available traffic.
Also, a highly competitive situation has developed between railroads and
inland water carriers in areas where parallel routes exist.
Great lakes are concentrating towards transportation of bulk products
while Deep-water vessels transport a significant high volume of non-bulk
items. Containerized cargo facilitates vessel loading and unloading and
enhances intermodal capability by increasing the efficiency of cargo
transfer between highway, rail and water.
Inland and great lakes will continue to be a viable option in future
logistical systems while the slow passage of inland river transport can
provide a form of warehousing in transit integrated into overall system
design.
Air transport is the newest and the least utilized mode of transport.
Its major advantage being its speed, which is accompanied by high costs.
A coast-to-coast shipment via air requires only a few hours contrast to
days taken by other mean of transportation. The high cost of transport
can be traded off for high speed, which allows other elements of
logistical design, such as warehousing, inventory to be reduced or
eliminated. But still air transport remains more of a potential
opportunity than a reality because it is very much under utilized.
The high cost of jet aircraft, coupled with erratic nature of freight
demand, has limited the assignment of dedicated planes to all-freight
operations. However premium carriers provide planes dedicated for
freight operations. This premium service started off with documents and
has moved onto large parcels, which is an ideal service for firms with a
large number of high-value products and time-sensitive service
requirements.
The fixed cost of air transport is low as compared to rails and water.
In fact, air transport ranks second only to highway with respect to low
fixed cost. Airways and airports are maintained by public funds and
terminals are by local communities. The fixed costs of airfreight are
associated with aircraft purchase and the requirement for specialized
handling systems and cargo containers. But the air freight variable cost
is extremely high as a result of fuel, maintenance, and labor intensity
of both in-flight and ground crews.
Since they require wide-open space, airports are generally not
integrated with other means of transport. However more "all freight"
airports are being developed so as to reduce conflict with passenger
operations.
No particular commodity dominates the traffic carried by airfreight
operations. These operations are carried more on emergency basis than
routine basis. Firms usually utilize scheduled or non-scheduled air
cargo movements when the situation justifies high cost. Products with
greatest potential for regular air movements are those having high value
or extremely perishable. When the marketing period for an item is
extremely limited, air transport comes into the picture, as it may be
the only practical method for logistical operations.
Arrow Speed would like to thank all customers for their
patronage and feedback through the years, which enabled us to provide
better service and grow.