Delivery Systems (Notes)

Delivery systems are facilities used to transport people and goods from one place to another.

Factors to consider when choosing a delivery system:

- Cost
- Reliability
- Convenienc
- Speed
- Types of goods
- Destination

Road Transport

Advantages:

- Fast over short distances
- Relatively cheap
- Not subject to timetables

Disadvantages:

- Subject to traffic congestion
- Bad weather
- Slow over long distances
- Not suitable for bulky goods

Rail Transport

Advantages:

- Fast over long distances
- Suitable and cheap for bulky goods
- Not subject to traffic congestion
- Reliable and safe

Disadvantages:

- Usually subject to timetable
- Fixed routes only
- Must be used in conjunction with another means of transport
- Expensive over short distances

Sea Transport

Advantages:

- Suitable for bulky goods
- Cheap over long distances
- Suitable for containers

Disadvantages:

- Slow over long distances
- Must be used in conjunction with another means of transport
- Subject to weather conditions
- Usually subject to timetable

Air Transport

Advantages:

- Fast over long distances
- Suitable for small expensive goods
- Safe

Disadvantages:

- Expensive for short distances
- Subject to weather conditions
- Not suitable for bulky goods
- Must be used in conjunction with another means of transport
- Fixed routes only

Pipelines

Advantages:

- Cheap to operate
- Very good safety record

Disadvantages:

- Expensive to set up
- Suitable only for gases and liquids

Courier

- A person or company used to deliver documents and small, value packages by hand.

Pallets and forklifts

- A pallet is a platform, usually wooden, onto which goods are loaded to make it easy to move them.

- A forklift is an easy manoeuvrable transport device used to load pallets on and off trucks.

Transport developments in Ireland

- The Dublin Port Tunnel

- Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport

- An Luas

State involvement in transport

- Iarnród Éireann

- Bus Éireann

- Dublin Bus