Global Transport Systems & Intermodal Transport: Comparative Analysis

This report provides a comparative analysis of global transport systems and intermodal transport between the Netherlands and Australia, focusing on importing high-definition televisions and exporting wheat. It examines the differences in transportation processes, including packaging, storage, and mode of transport, highlighting the suitability of air cargo and shipping for fragile HDTVs and the versatility of sea, air, and road transport for wheat. The report also delves into factors affecting cost and efficiency, such as government regulations, trade agreements, exchange rates, and the integration of transport infrastructure. It emphasizes the role of information and communications technology and the importance of strategic options, mobility, and legal integration in optimizing transportation activities. The analysis incorporates the generic strategy model of transportation, considering government policies, market prospects, supply chain dynamics, and competitive factors to improve transportation development between the Netherlands and Australia. Desklib offers this report as a valuable resource for students studying logistics and international trade.

Running head: GLOBAL TRANSPORT SYSTEMS AND INTERMODAL TRANSPORT
Global Transport Systems and Intermodal Transport
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Author’s Note

1GLOBAL TRANSPORT SYSTEMS AND INTERMODAL TRANSPORT
Executive Summary
The extent of the discourse ranges from determining the differences in importing high definition
television from Netherlands and exporting wheat to Australia. The various extracts of the study
have also considered the factors affecting the cost and efficiency in transportation agreemtn
between the two nations. The important outcomes have suggested the differences in terms of
packaging of the items. The transportation of HDTVs needs to be categorized as fragile in
nature, therefore it is important for the courier, logistics and freight services to take special care
in moving of the items locally, overseas or as per interstate. In addition to this, the storage and
selection of mode of transportation are also different. The suitable mode of the import of HDTVs
is identified with Air Cargo and shipping. This will be able to ensure that there is least risk of the
of the product as a result of shocks. On the other hand, the most suitable method of
transportation of product like wheat needs to be taken into account with all three modes of
transportation (sea, air and road). The factors impacting the transportation efficiency and cost
have been considered with not only the differences in agreements in both the countries but also
productivity, exchange rate and rate of inflation.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Comparison and contrast of transport process of HDTV from Netherlands and wheat from
Australia...........................................................................................................................................3
Discussion of the factors affecting the cost and efficiency of the two processes of transportation 6
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
The report is related to the relevant discussions which are associated with transportation
operations in Australia and Netherlands. The important assessment of the discourse of the study
has well-thought-out the assumptions for importing high definition television from Netherlands
and Netherlands importing wheat from Australia. The main assessment of the report has showed
the comparison and contrast for the process of importing HDTVs from Netherlands and
importing wheat in return. The second section of the discussions has considered the factors
which affect the efficiency and cost for transport process between the two countries. The overall
transportation process has included concepts which are depicted to be relevant in terms studying
the market profiles in both the regions, demographic pattern and economic situation. It has also
considered some of the other concepts which are concerned with exchange rates, Shipping Rates
& Tariffs for both the countries in relation to the process of the import and export management.
The discussion of the different elements related to the cost and efficiency of the two-transport
process has been depicted with generic strategy model of transportation business (Findlay and
Garnaut 2017).
Comparison and contrast of transport process of HDTV from Netherlands and wheat from
Australia
Netherlands is recognized as a member of “European Union (EU)” which is supported
by the EU trade regulations. Netherlands, is seen as a significant investment and trading partner
of Australia with an investment of $ 2.6 billion in services and manufactured products as per the
data revealed in 2015-16. Moreover, it is discerned that Australian merchandise for the exports
with Netherlands are seen with products ranging from coal, medical instruments and electronics.

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These factors are seen to be favorable in terms of importing HDTVs (categorized as electronics)
from Netherlands. Moreover, the Dutch business culture is represented with wide range of
experience relating to conduction of international business. The overall commencement of the
import and export process is generally initiated with a notice of six weeks (Zhong et al. 2016).
Aus-trade Assistance activities in the markets are considered as per attracting foreign
direct investment pertaining to the promotional activities of the Australian services. The
Australian exporters are further depicted with the various types of the investments related in
providing wide range of assistance associated to providing more expansion options as per market
research, channels and marketing consultants (Leal et al. 2016).
The main differences pertaining to the trade needs to be considered with the packaging of
the items. The transportation of HDTVs is to be categorized as fragile item, therefore it is
important for the courier, logistics and freight services to take special care in moving of the items
locally, overseas or as per interstate. It needs to be also discerned that the staking of the fragile
items needs to be well-thought-out with the several aspects of staking which will be able to
ensure that the items are prevented from any event of shock and vibration. On the other hand, the
exporting of wheat will be different. This will be considered with using jute bags, paper bags or
polypropylene bags depending on the size of the individual lots which are to be transported.
Some of the different types of the other aspects of the transportation of wheat and grain has been
identified with perishability aspects. It needs to be understood that the transportation and storage
of wheat needs to be considered with duration of the transportation process. In addition to this,
the storage consideration pertaining to the transport of wheat from one hub to another needs to be
depicted as different from storage of wheat (Baldwin and Lopez‐Gonzalez 2015).

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The HDTVs will require a storage condition so that it may be ensured that the items are
free from dangers of falling or even damaged by a forklift. This is important to be considered
from the perspective of intermodal transportation during hub to hub transits. On the other hand,
the storage of the wheats needs to be ensured by its storage in a cool and dry place, which is free
from any dust. It needs to be confirmed that the transport container is free from any pests and
insects which may hamper the quality of the product (Anderson and Nelgen 2015).
The import agreement for Australia needs to be considered with wide range of aspects of
Government regulations. This is mainly seen with the requirements of import permits, treatments
to be applied to a specific category of items and nature of the goods imported. The televisions
imported to Australia are inclusive of GST (which is 10% at present). It needs to be also seen
that the important nature of the consideration for the importing the goods needs to be taken into
account with other costs such as clearance fees and customs duties in relation to the regulations
followed in Australia (Chen et al. 2018).
The process of successful export of the items needs to be represented as per the trade
agreements of both Australia and Netherland. The difference in the transportation process of both
the items needs to be further identified in terms of modes of transportation. The suitable mode of
the import of HDTVs is acknowledged with Air Cargo and shipping. This will be able to ensure
that there is least risk to the product as a result of shocks from vehicle movements. This will
ensure that all the products exported are free from any damages. This will help in reducing the
additional costs pertaining to damages. On the other hand, the most suitable method of
transportation of products like wheat needs to be taken into account as per all three modes of
transportation (sea, air and road). In order to ensure the cheapest cost for export, Netherlands
should consider procuring the items in terms of the shipment through waterways. However, if it

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decides to adopt any other mode of transportation it needs to compromise with the cost of
transshipment. It needs to be also discerned that there may be significant nature of the other
forms of issues which are needed to be taken into account as per safety of the transit (Pomfret
and Sourdin 2017).
The import process for the HDTV transshipment needs to ensure that the documentation
is covering for both the current state of affairs and agreement in case of any damages to the
products. In addition to this, the 3PL operators needs to hire specialty movers for moving of
valuables such as HDTV. Some of the main aspects of the transportation needs to be ensured in
terms of pelleting, special bracing and cushioning of the items. The export of the wheats needs to
be taken into account as per including the road transportation and ocean transport. This will be
able to ensure that the 3PL operators are able to maintain the lowest cost pertaining to
transshipment of the goods (Van Marrewijk 2017).
Discussion of the factors affecting the cost and efficiency of the two processes of
transportation
The practice of logistics and transportation in the EU needs to be identified as per the
support of information and communications technology. The process of transportation has been
further considered as per the operational layout of the organizations which is dependent on the
generic strategy model of transportation. This model needs to be taken into account as per
government, prospects, supply and the factors associated with the competing factors.
Transportation must be oriented with the strategies such as strategic options, mobility, legal and
institutional integration of the activities in Netherlands and Australia. In addition to this, the
factors associated to the supply of the products are related to the Macro Field. Furthermore, the

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mobility is involved with the cost and efficiency. The factors such as low mobility can be seen
with lower amount of investment and lower efficiency in the overall process of transportation
(Chaudhary and Kastner 2016).
The transport infrastructure of Australia needs to be integrated with the transport
infrastructure of European transport system in such a manner that developmental interests are
exercised at the optimum extent of the approximations made as per EU guidelines. The mobility
of free flow of goods is further related to the fact whether the 3PL companies are able to
implement optimum transport connections with surrounding countries (Golev et al. 2016).
In terms of Australia, the international documents need to be considered as per
developmental perspectives of combined transportation which includes transport infrastructure,
intimidation and non-discriminatory transit documents. Moreover, the transport infrastructure of
Australia needs to be in harmony with European economic community which is associated with
Republic of Netherlands pertaining to the field of import and export operations. The important
concerns of road, rail and combined transport infrastructure should include the agreement of both
signatories for following common objectives and improving the cooperation among EU and
Australia as per the EU guidelines formulated from January 1993 to December 1997. The
agreement as per set up a fund to consider as per cooperation of “Trans-European Railway
(TER)” for ensuring the maximum efficiency in rail transit. The program of TER was mainly
launched with the motive of bringing about political changes in the eastern Europe. The main
focus should be given on increasing the efficiency and quality of combined transport and able to
bring better transportation development on Netherlands and Australia (Peterson 2017).

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The important factors related to supply should be based on the growth factors related to
transport of goods in Australia. This should be built on the factors whether the country is able to
increase its GNP by incorporation of efficient transport. On the contrary, the growth and
development of transport is not only dependent on growth of GNP rather the result of demand
from individual firms for providing necessary transportation services. Therefore, in terms of
strategy scenarios it is important to consider the transportation strategy both at macro and micro
level (McCombie and Thirlwall 2016).
The macro level goals are realized with the integration of such objectives in the economy
associated to several types of activities and distribution of work in Australia in relation to trade
with Netherlands as per EU agreement. Moreover, the measure of transportation policy should be
considered with dividing the policy objectives into two main groups which are seen as direct and
indirect groups. The direct measures are considered with influencing factors for supply of
transportation services. However, the indirect measures are depicted with influence of
distribution among infrastructure measures which are responsible for building and bring about
real innovation infrastructures. The direct measures such as subsidies are further considered with
financial means allocating state -wise efficient and transportation model without the need of
repayment. The indirect measures are further depicted with acquisition of certain types of freight
car systems and fostering carriages. As a transportation policy are mainly concerned with EU
agreement the capital goals need to consider several aspects for bringing about efficiency in the
transportation system (Yang and Dong 2016).
The factors such as improving the road and rail infrastructure would be the primary factor
for ensuring maximum capacity and speed of the transit. This is necessary for utilizing the full
truck capacity in terms of importing the HDTVs and exporting wheat. Several types of other

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needs to be considered as per ability, efficiency and accessibility of the world transportation
system which largely depend on the transport infrastructure and international treaties of tariffs
and trade agreements. Moreover, larger volume of transport will be consequently able to enhance
the port operations on which the companies can depend in future for increased transit (Arto, I.,
Andreoni and Rueda-Cantuche 2016).
However, the process of import and export is not only limited to the factors associated to
transportation infrastructure and agreements pertaining to combined transport operations. The
intricacies are seen with factors which influence the country’s export and import policies. It is to
be seen that the inflation rate of a country, exchange rate, productivity, quality, marketing,
domestic GDP, foreign GDP and trade restrictions have a pivotal role in determining cost and
efficiency of a transit process. It needs to be discerned that the inflation rate of consumer price
index in Australia rose to 2.1% in 2018 from 1.9% in 2017. This is considered as highest since
2017. The increasing inflation rate in Australia suggests that there is a high possibility that the
country will experience increased difficulties in exporting wheat in Netherlands. This is mainly
due to the fact that it will be constrained with international competitiveness in terms of setting
low price strategy for exports. There may be a situation that Netherlands may decide to go for
other international importers for the same product (Zealand 2016).
It needs to be discerned that the exchange rate of Australia has suddenly fell from 1.33 in
the beginning of September 2018 to Netherlands Antillean Guilder to 1.28 Netherlands Antillean
Guilder at the end of the month. This signifies the country will suffer from lower prices for
exporting wheat and increased price for importing the televisions. Productivity is another
important factor which will determine the labor costs per unit. The average increase in
productivity rate by 2% suggests that Australia can compensate for the loss pertaining to

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exchange rate in terms of exporting televisions at a higher price and importing wheat at a lower
price (Prados De La Escosura 2016).
Conclusion
The important elements of differences in import and export activities between Australia
Netherlands are depicted on several geopolitical and mechanical factors. A significant nature of
difference has been shown with packaging of both the items. Secondly, the storage process
between intermodal hub to a transit is also be different for high-value consumer electronic item
such as HDTV and daily consumables such as wheat. Moreover, selection of transportation mode
will be different for both items. The various nature of factors affecting cost and efficiency is in
the transportation process are related to productivity, exchange rate of both the countries and rate
of inflation.

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References
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compendium (p. 468). University of Adelaide Press.
Arto, I., Andreoni, V. and Rueda-Cantuche, J.M., 2016. Global use of water resources: a
multiregional analysis of water use, water footprint and water trade balance. Water Resources
and Economics, 15, pp.1-14.
Baldwin, R. and Lopez‐Gonzalez, J., 2015. Supply‐chain trade: A portrait of global patterns and
several testable hypotheses. The World Economy, 38(11), pp.1682-1721.
Chaudhary, A. and Kastner, T., 2016. Land use biodiversity impacts embodied in international
food trade. Global Environmental Change, 38, pp.195-204.
Chen, W., Wu, S., Lei, Y. and Li, S., 2018. Virtual water export and import in china’s foreign
trade: A quantification using input-output tables of China from 2000 to 2012. Resources,
Conservation and Recycling, 132, pp.278-290.
Findlay, C. and Garnaut, R., 2017. The political economy of manufacturing protection:
Experiences of ASEAN and Australia. Routledge.
Golev, A., Werner, T.T., Zhu, X. and Matsubae, K., 2016. Product flow analysis using trade
statistics and consumer survey data: a case study of mobile phones in Australia. Journal of
cleaner production, 133, pp.262-271.