Transportation is a means of moving people, animals, and goods from one place to another. Since the early existence of human civilisation, people relied on horses and carts or carriages for this purpose. Countries around the world have been trading by sea using ships for hundreds of years.
In more recent history, industrialisation popularised the use of trains and rail freight, and further scientific development led to the invention of motor vehicles, aircraft, and even spacecraft. Can you even imagine a world without cars, vans, and trucks, or travelling by buses, trains, or aeroplanes?
Though older generations may still remember what it was like to experience a time when national and international transport networks were less developed, many of us have no real idea of what it was like before. It’s easy to overlook transportation, but life would be entirely different without it.
➣ Has transport really improved our 21st century?
Well, yes. It’s undeniable that the world we live in today would not be the same, or even possible, without transportation infrastructures and associated innovations. Without effective transportation to link communities and enable trade and commerce, society as we know it would simply not exist.
In our current global economy, where opportunities often depend on mobility, transport is a vital factor in every country’s development. The social, cultural, political, and economic development of a nation depends on it. In fact, deficient transportation systems are linked to a lower quality of life.
At John K. Philips, we’ve been successfully transporting and distributing goods for over 40 years, since the early 1970s. We’ve seen first-hand the positive impact that the transportation industry has on businesses both big and small. Without services like ours, where would businesses be today?
Transportation in daily life
Mobility and market accessibility depend on effective transportation networks. Many people rely on transport to move between their homes, workplaces, and businesses every day. It’s easy to take all of this for granted, but let’s take a look at the importance of transportation for people in daily life.
➣ Transportation for work
Distribution and accessibility of resources results in more economic opportunities, for individuals as well as businesses. Many industries rely on fast and efficient transportation to receive raw materials and deliver manufactured or processed goods – without which people couldn’t buy and use them.
Most commercial activities are reliant on transportation, especially industries like tourism. Not only does accessible and effective transport help people to get to work, but it also creates transportation-specific jobs. According to Statista, almost 1.4 million people work in the transport sector in the UK.
Think about all the transport jobs you see – bus drivers, train conductors, delivery drivers, freight management, pilots and cabin crew, travel agencies – and those behind the scenes. From picking and packaging to insurance and finance, most jobs rely on transport either directly or indirectly.
➣ Transportation for connectivity
Can you imagine the consequences of the geographic limitations without transport? Think about all the imported foods and items that you wouldn’t have access to without international trade, and the multi-cultural knowledge and experiences you’d be missing out on. Not just luxuries, but necessities.
Transportation connects communities throughout a country, and different countries across the world. What if you couldn’t travel to see family, or go on holidays abroad? Transport not only links products and consumers, but also broadens knowledge and fosters international relationships.
Spreading information, skills, and products between cultures allows us to develop into better people, as part of strong and cooperative societies. Transportation helps to break down man-made boundaries and reduce the geographical distance that previously separated people and places.
➣ Transportation for convenience
This connectivity also provides levels of convenience that would have been unfathomable a century ago. Investments in infrastructure and the resulting increase in opportunities have led to huge social shifts, from the ease of international travel to the more recent development of the gig economy.
From next-day delivery on Amazon Prime to ordering a late-night pizza on Uber Eats, modern life is prospering in more convenient ways than ever thanks to transportation. You can drive or take the bus or train to work in a city miles away, and pop to the shops for something whenever you need to.
The optimisation of resources and facilities that allows us to thrive in this fast-paced progressive world wouldn’t be possible without transportation. Greater availability of supplies also reduces their cost, which means consumers can benefit from affordable and easily obtainable goods and services.
➣ Transportation for wellbeing
The purpose of human existence is a bit of a heavy topic for a haulage company blog, but most of us want the same things. A piece of land to call home, whether we own or lease it, communication with the people important to us, financial stability, and the ability to learn and experience new things.
You’ve probably already guessed it – but transportation facilitates all of this. Finding a place to live and getting a job, visiting family and friends, having enough food, going to university, travelling for leisure… we couldn’t maintain a healthy and happy life without the opportunities transport offers.
Of course, transportation is also crucial in supplying and sharing life-saving resources like medication and hospital equipment. From police and firefighters to government offices, our security and safety often depend on internationally developed technologies. Everything comes back to transportation.
Transportation for business
It’s essential for any business to be able to procure materials, take them to a production location, and distribute their final goods. Transportation connects companies to suppliers and customers, creating an important framework that allows supply to meet personal and professional demands.
The mobility that transportation provides boosts national and international economies. Transport contributes 6%-12% of national GDP (gross domestic product), while logistical costs account for 6%-25% of GDP. The total value of all transportation infrastructure and assets could easily reach 50%.
➣ Transportation for movement of goods
The most obvious and significant way that transportation helps businesses is by facilitating the movement of goods. As transport methods have developed throughout history, so have production and distribution. This is especially vital for perishable and agricultural goods like poultry and dairy.
From seaports to rivers and canals, roads to railways, airways to the internet – gradual globalisation of transport technologies now allows companies to source, produce, and distribute goods anywhere in the world. Equally, consumers from almost everywhere can purchase these goods from them.
The increased speed and efficiency of modern transportation and logistics translates to increased sales and growth for businesses. They can provide better quality goods in faster timeframes, which improves customer service. Satisfied customers are then likely to purchase more of their goods.
➣ Transportation for labour mobility
Just as transport can move goods between locations, so can it move labour. Whether this is by local commuting or utilising global labour, it’s much easier to increase production rates by moving labour, equipment, and materials to wherever they’re required and/or wherever associated costs are lower.
Labour and production increase capital, which businesses can then invest in even more sectors. It maintains a cycle that keeps supply chains running smoothly to prevent delays and shortages, and provides employment, giving workers more disposable income to invest back into the economy.
Increased earning power as a result of transportation improves the standard of living for many people, allowing them to afford more goods that transportation also gives them access to. Without transport, businesses wouldn’t be able to fulfil the workforces they require to get everything done.
➣ Transportation for controlling prices
In times gone by, scarcity and surplus due to geographical variation caused prices to fluctuate often, sometimes quite drastically. Nowadays, while prices may not be standardised or uniform, they’re definitely more stable. Market monopolies are generally discouraged, creating healthy competition.
The ability to source cheap raw materials from foreign markets and hire appropriate labour helps to keep production costs down. Companies often pass on some of these savings to their customers – generally, the less it costs to produce something, the cheaper it is for consumers to purchase it.
Transportation also helps businesses to save money by better coordinating their operations. They can distribute goods to different places and across many regions at the same time to meet demand. Competition between producers means that they’re always aiming to reduce their costs even more.
➣ Transportation for mass production
From planning and designing to sourcing and manufacturing, then to delivery and consumption, transport is a key part of every stage of production. It increases the diversity of inputs (e.g. materials and labour), thereby expanding outputs (a wider variety of commodities across broader markets).
Transportation enables the maximisation of procedures and transactions, so businesses can acquire and then sell more goods, decreasing the cost per unit. As mentioned above, fast and inexpensive mass production is good news for consumers, too – it means you can get more while spending less.
Being able to mass-produce goods allows companies to serve more customers and increase their revenue. Goods and services can be supplied conveniently, with little disruption. Of course, all organisations should try to minimise the impact of their production activities on the environment.
➣ Transportation for maximising profits
In highly competitive markets, companies must provide excellent products and customer service to keep consumers happy. An effective transportation system plays a big part in the sustainability of a business, as they must maintain and scale up their production to continue operating long-term.
Without proper transportation management, you’re likely to experience a plethora of transit problems. Things like mishandling products, directing shipments to incorrect destinations, and late deliveries leave customers very dissatisfied. It can also have a negative impact on local economies.
On the other hand, an optimised transport system allows businesses to operate smoothly from start to finish of their supply chain and distribution processes. Easier movement and coordination means more access to cheaper materials and labour, increasing the profit margin for the goods produced.
➣ Are you making the most of transportation for your business?
Most industries require fast transportation to deliver and receive goods and materials, in order to maintain steady business and generate a profit. Economic growth depends on reliable transportation – like our pallet delivery service – which allows trade to reach out to a wider spread of consumers.
If you’re a business owner, are you making the most of the transportation options available to you? Would you benefit from distribution on an expansive scale? Can your customers currently track their deliveries? If not, then perhaps you should contact John K. Philips to discuss our transport services.
Our extensive fleet of trucks work across the UK and internationally, enabling businesses to meet customer needs and thrive in a competitive environment. We work with partners across Europe and even Asia to take business operations to the next level. Here are just some of our popular services:
➣ Pallet delivery
At John K. Philips, we’re experts in pallet delivery and palletised freight, meaning that we can help businesses to deliver large volumes of goods safely, securely, and on time. For you, that means peace of mind that your customers receive the goods as expected, without damages or delays.
Unlike most pallet delivery businesses, we don’t charge per pallet. Instead, we only charge for the total pallet space you use. This helps you to keep your costs down and allows you to streamline your operations. You can rely on us to take care of your palletised goods and distribute them effectively.
➣ Road haulage
Over the years, John K. Philips has earned a strong reputation as a leading road haulage company in North West England. Offering exceptional flexibility to our customers, we can provide both road haulage services and bulk transportation across the UK and beyond, including European deliveries.
You can benefit from same and next day delivery in the UK, as well as standard 2-3 day delivery. We can run deliveries from the UK to Europe within 72 hours. Whether you need to transport hazardous or non-hazardous items, in any form or volume, we can tailor our haulage to suit your requirements.
➣ Full and part load distribution
Whenever you need to transport a large consignment, our full load service can get your goods from A to B. When you only have a small consignment, it can be difficult to find a provider for partial load removals without having to pay for a full load. Luckily, we provide this service throughout the UK.
We understand that not every business will require a full lorry for their consignments, which is why John K. Philips aims to save you time and money with our part load service. Our full load services are always available for bigger consignments, ensuring that we can meet your requirements every time.
➣ Track and trace
Trusting somebody else with your valuable consignment can be daunting, which is why we offer a full track and trace service at John K. Philips. With our top-end transport tracking technology, we’ll keep you in the loop at all times. So, in the rare event of a snag or delay, you’ll be the first to know.
With our real-time electronic system, we can provide the latest updates on your goods whenever you require, offering full transparency for both your business and your customers. This includes information like the location of the consignment and the details of operatives and delivery vehicles.
➣ In-house logistics
As one of the most challenging parts of running a successful business, storing and distributing goods is both a science and an art. When you entrust John K. Philips with the storage and distribution of your goods, you can also benefit from our integrated logistics solutions to simplify your operations.
Shipments, warehouses, orders, deliveries – the larger the business, the more complicated things become. It’s best left to experts with dedicated software and transport networks – like John K. Philips. Our logistics planning team has the know-how to keep your business running like clockwork.
Contact John K. Philips for transportation services
As you can see from this article, transportation is crucial to any growing company, and John K. Philips offers a wealth of transport services to help with this. Gaining years of industry experience since we began operating back in 1974, John K. Philips is the trustworthy solution for all your transport needs.
To discuss your transportation requirements and learn more about how our company can boost your own business productivity, get in touch by calling our team on 01744 751 000. If you prefer, you can submit an enquiry through our online contact form instead, and we’ll respond as soon as possible.
Transportation FAQs
What are the important transportation statistics for the UK?
Since you’re now aware of the importance of transportation in commerce and life as we know it, you may be interested in some significant statistics about transportation in the UK. Did you know that:
- ⦿ Passengers travel a total of 873 billion kilometres in a year
- ⦿ On average, people each make 953 trips by public and private transport in a year – 580 of these trips are in either a car or a van
- ⦿ Road transport is responsible for at least 20% of the UK’s annual greenhouse gas emissions
- ⦿ By government estimates, 268 million tonnes of freight is imported into the UK and 5 million tonnes is exported from the UK in a year (excluding the Irish border)
- ⦿ 95% of international freight that arrives in the UK comes by sea
- ⦿ 79% of domestic freight is moved via road haulage
- ⦿ The road freight sector has around 60,000 enterprises and 290,000 employees, annually contributing almost £14 billion to the UK economy
- ⦿ GB-registered HGVs lift 27 billion tonnes of goods a year, moving 136 billion tonne kilometres (weight of goods x distance travelled)
- ⦿ When it comes to ordinary vehicle miles, HGVs travel 4 billion miles a year altogether
- ⦿ HGVs travel 4,942 empty kilometres a year (carrying zero tonnes of freight)
- ⦿ Out of all commodities domestically lifted within a year, 25% were palletised goods, and 4% were dangerous goods
- ⦿ From 53 million tonnes of dangerous goods, 67% of these were flammable liquids such as alcohol and crude oil
So there you have it – plenty of interesting facts about transportation in the UK. As you can see, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and road haulage really do perform the heavy lifting in this industry.
Is transportation bad for the environment?
Statistics about vehicle emissions might worry you, what with the growing global alarm about air pollution and climate change. While transport emissions make up a portion of our net greenhouse gas emissions, most of these are from aviation, and domestic emissions are slowly decreasing.
Reducing waste and emissions (without reducing profits) is on the minds of most businesses these days. There are many things that we can do to make the transportation industry greener, like:
- ⦿ Optimising the supply chain with sustainable sources and end-to-end data visibility
- ⦿ Switching to alternative fuels and/or investing in more eco-friendly vehicles
- ⦿ Modifying routes and loads for cost and fuel efficiency (reducing empty kilometres/miles)
- ⦿ Shifting to clean (renewable) energy at warehouses and related facilities
As we all look to the future and do our part to ensure a clean and safe world for everyone, we’ll start to see emissions reduce over time. At John K. Philips, we’re also taking steps to become a more eco-friendly haulage company – we’re even expanding our fleet by investing in optimised mega-trailers.
How can part load haulage help my business?
You know why road haulage is important for business, but are you aware of the benefits of part-load haulage? If you’re interested in cost efficiency and reducing your company’s carbon footprint, which could save you money and improve your brand reputation, then it’s definitely worthwhile.
If your shipments aren’t big enough to fill a container or lorry on their own, you may end up paying for a full load anyway. Should the rest of the truck be empty, you’ll be contributing to wasteful fuel emissions. Opting for part load transport avoids these problems, distributing your goods efficiently.
Why waste money and time when John K. Philips can provide both part load and full load services whenever you require either? Thanks to our advanced tracking systems, you’ll never have to worry about lost or mixed-up goods when sharing space with other shipments – we always keep them safe.
This entry was updated on 08/04/2022.