Final answer:
Highway mode of transportation for shipping goods typically incurs higher shipping costs and a medium delivery speed due to road congestion. Truck-accessible locations near uncrowded freeways can mitigate these costs, and the use of intermodal containers has revolutionized shipping efficiency and reduced costs.
Step-by-step explanation:
When utilizing highway mode of transportation for shipping goods, it is generally understood that the goods may face high shipping costs and medium delivery speed. This can be primarily attributed to the potential for congested street networks and jammed freeways, which can make the transport process more expensive and slow down delivery times. Ideal locations for shipping facilities are near uncrowded freeways, as they allow for materials and workers to easily move to and from factories, thereby reducing travel time and costs. Moreover, having access to rail or water transport as alternative or supplemental options can further optimize shipping efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Cargo ships represent another crucial transportation mode in the global trade system. Large cargo ships can carry substantial quantities of goods across oceans, achieving high levels of efficiency based on economies of scale. For example, a typical ship may cover 10,400 km between Shanghai and Los Angeles, transporting 10,000 20-foot equivalent containers, with a potential full load reaching 100,000 tons of cargo. This showcases the significant capacity achievable with this mode of transport.
It's also important to note the impact of containerization on shipping efficiency and costs. The adoption of intermodal containers in the 1950s revolutionized the shipping industry by allowing for easy stacking and transfer of goods across different modes of transportation, including trucks, trains, and ships. This process has dramatically decreased the cost and increased the speed of shipping goods, leading to profound changes in global manufacturing and distribution networks.