Why has the provider of choice shifted from rail to motor modes? With the shift to motor freight carriers, the amount of traffic accidents have sky rocketed, please give your opinion of the reason for this.
Several reasons have contributed to the move from rail
to motor modes as the preferred form of freight transportation, and a combination of these variables may be influencing the increase in traffic accidents. Here are some explanations for the change; flexibility and accessibility as trucks provide a more convenient point-to-point delivery option that may not be offered by rail. Motor transportation can be more cost-effective for shorter distances, LTL loads or deliveries that are time sensitive whereas rail options would be more expensive and take longer to deliver. Motor transport
provides faster and on-demand delivery, increasing efficiency for those businesses who operate using just-in-time inventory management. Some businesses promote environmental sustainability by utilizing motor transporters vs rail transportation. The convenience and cost-effectiveness of motor freight carriers has contributed to the shift from rail to motor freight carriers. Motor freight carriers can transport goods faster and more efficiently than rail modes, making them appealing to both shippers and carriers.
The number of traffic accidents on roads has increased due to this change in the transportation method. As the number of trucks and private cars on the road grows, accidents are increasing. In my opinion, the reason for the increase is due to congestion, driver fatigue (due to an increase in orders/deliveries forcing drivers to work overtime),
highway infrastructure (increased construction or poorly maintained roads). I also believe that due to COVID and the driver shortage that plagued the trucking industry, we have more inexperienced drivers on the road than we did before 2020.
