TDW 3020 - Transportation

1. The Role and Importance of Transportation
   1. Describe why efficient transportation systems are so critical to advance the growth and development of countries, and how they contribute to social and political systems as well as national defense
   2. Discuss the importance of transportation to globalization and how it contributes to the effective flow of commerce among close and distant regions
   3. Understand how global supply chains can contribute to the competitive position of countries and allow them to penetrate global markets
   4. Explain the underlying economic basis for international exchange of goods and services for the overall benefit of two or more countries or regions and gain some perspective on the volume and overall importance of the more advanced countries of the world
   5. Understand the challenges and opportunities associated with the worldwide growth in urbanization and why there has been such a major shift from rural to urban areas
   6. Discuss the overall characteristics and importance of globalization and supply chains in the highly competitive world economies of the 21^st century
2. Transportation and the Economy
   1. Understand the importance of transportation to the economic vitality of the United States and countries or regions and why Transportation is probably our most important industry
   2. Appreciate the role and contributions of transportation systems to the economic development of countries or regions
   3. Discuss the impact that improved transportation has upon land values and economic development
   4. Understand how transportation affects the price of goods, services and market areas
   5. Appreciate the function and scope of transportation in advanced and developed economies
3. Motor Carriers
   1. Describe the brief history motor carriers and their impact on transportation
   2. Understand the development of motor carriers and their contributions to the U.S. economy
   3. Describe the different types of firms in the motor carrier industry and .the service characteristics of motor carriers
   4. Identify the different types of vehicles and terminals used in the motor carrier industry
   5. Understand the impacts of fuel and labor on the motor carrier cost structure and be aware of current issues facing the motor carrier industry
4. Railroads
   1. Describe the brief history of rail systems and their impact on transportation
   2. Appreciate the contributions of the railroad industry to the development of the U.S. economy
   3. Know the major types of commodities hauled by the railroads
   4. Discuss the nature of costs in the railroad industry and how they impact pricing decisions
   5. Understand the importance of intermodal car loadings on the growth of the railroad industry and be aware of current issues facing the railroad industry
5. Airlines
   1. Describe the brief history of airlines and their impact on transportation
   2. Describe the importance of air transportation in the U.S. economy and the types and numbers of different air carriers
   3. Define the operating and service characteristics of airline transportation along with the impacts of fuel and labor cost on airlines
   4. Understand the concepts of economies of scale and density in the airline industry and be aware of current issues facing airlines
6. Water Carriers and Pipelines
   1. Describe the brief history of water carriers and pipelines and their impact on transportation
   2. Understand the importance of domestic waterways in the development of the both domestic and global economies
   3. Discuss the various types of water carriers and their role in the overall water carrier system
   4. Understand the competitive environment for water carriers on an intra-modal as well as an inter-modal basis
   5. Understand the current issues faced by the water carrier industry in the 21^st century
   6. Describe the development and current position of the pipeline industry in the economy
   7. Discuss the types of pipeline companies and their role in the U.S. and global transportation systems
   8. Describe the operating and service characteristics of pipeline carriers and what makes them unique in the transportation system along with the costs that impacts their rates and services