KEY AREA SELECTED ISSUES :
TRANSPORTATION (LAND)
___________________________________________________________________________

ARTICLE 1 : TRANSPORT A MAJOR CONCERN – SURVEY

1.1 Summary
In South Africa, transportation is one of the biggest concerns, including public transport, accidents, and cost of fuel. Even though the people are concerned, they are positive and hopeful that the government is working for future improvement.

1.2 Issues
1.2.1 Transport is the third highest overall priority in South Africa society
1.2.2 The public’s top three issues were public transport, the high accident rate and the cost of fuel
1.2.3 The survey found that the outlook for the future was better, with 43% of South Africans thinking transport in their local area would improve in the coming years.
1.2.4 Majority of the respondents said there should be more private sector involvement in the provision of public transport.

ARTICLE 2 : WHY JAPAN’S HIGH-SPEED TRAINS ARE SO GOOD

2.1 Summary
Countries wanting high-speed trains can look to Japan’s example which refers to connecting the densely-populated areas by train, privatizing rail companies, and encouraging rail companies to be involved with development around the rails for extra revenue to be reinvested to the rail system.

2.2 Issues
2.2.1 Japan’s high-speed bullet train is often held up as an exemplar by rail boosters and government keen to acquire their own shiny new train-sets.
2.2.2 Trains are symbolic of modernity in Japan.
2.2.3 Geography influenced the rail network’s development: most of Japan’s 128m inhabitants live in a few densely-populated part of the country.
2.2.4 Many of the customers were rich and willing to pay for more expensive high-speed tickets.
2.2.5 The ability to build large developments alongside the high-speed railways is a boon to the Japanese bullet line, as is the ability to charge high ticket prices.

ARTICLE 3 : WORKING LIVES:TACKLING THE TRANSPORT PROBLEM

3.1 Summary
Transportation should be viewed in the long-term. It requires long-term planning and commitment at all point of view. When transport problems are solved as short-term fixes, there will be problems. For the money problem, one long-term solution is savings. Another long-term solution is considering how the policies help the community. The local government can help create these long-term transport solutions.

3.2 Issues
3.2.1 Transport requires long-term strategic thinking and consideration of how decisions impact the communities they affect.
3.2.2 Transport is too often seen as a short term problem because it is how is often experienced by many.
3.2.3 Savings for transport inevitably need to be found.
3.2.4 Ensuring policy objectives focused on communities are the foundation of transport plan and schemes.
3.2.5 The local government has a central role focusing on improving lives and communities as well as improving the relationship between transport and community.

ARTICLE 4 : TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMS US TRCKING INDUSTRY

4.1 Summary
An evolution of technology trends is converging on the critically important American trucking industry. This trends can help decision‐makers address major burdens impacting everyday trucking operations, including regulatory compliance, safety and efficiency and driver recruitment/retention.With the ability to capture, analyze and report on vast amounts of information from vehicles, drivers and elsewhere, benefits fleets by enabling more metric‐driven business decisions that, in turn, can help to drive operational efficiencies.

4.2 Issues
4.2.1 Computing is transforming the way in which distribution professionals assess their shipping processes.
4.2.2 It helps logistics experts abide by safety regulations and promote sustainability.
4.2.3 New truck model were equipped with the latest computing technology designed to connect vehicles with distribution centers.
4.2.4 The modern truck now popular among the logistic companies due to increased federal safety regulations.
4.2.5 The strengthened transportation sector had help improving the US economy.

ARTICLE 5 : ATA’S AMERICAN TRUCKING TRENDS REPORT AN INCREASE IN TRUCKING’S PERCENTAGE OF ALL DOMESTIC FREIGHT

5.1 Summary
Despite what it is happening in the economy, one thing has remained constant over the years: the steady hold, and gains, in freight transportation market share held by the trucking sector. Even with the growth in market share, the trucking sector faces various challenges, including regulatory drag due to new motor carrier Hours-of-Service regulations, which took effect in July 2013, as well as CSA. Trucking executives have commented to LM that while approaching the mid-way point of the year, the sector appears to be on steady ground overall, with decent, steady momentum in the manufacturing and retail sectors, which bodes well for the freight economy should the momentum continue into the second half of the year.

5.2 Issues
5.2.1 In 2013, trucks moved 69.1 percent of all domestic freight tonnage, up from 68.5 percent the previous year;
5.2.2 The industry also collected 81.2 percent of all freight revenue, up from 80.7 percent in 2012;
5.2.3 Trucks move the majority of all NAFTA trade, hauling 55.4 percent of all trade with Canada and 65.4 percent of all trade with Mexico
5.2.4 Trucking employed more than 7 million people in 2013
5.2.5 The industry paid $37.8 billion in state and federal highway user fees, among others ARTICLE 6: NO SHORTAGE OF CHALLENGES FOR THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY

6.1 Summary
It is no secret that the trucking industry is not without its challenges. Another hard-to-ignore issue impacting the trucking industry is the economy. This was made clear by American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves in his annual State of the Industry Address. In this address, Graves highlighted the fact that the federal debt and unemployment figures continue to head in the wrong direction, coupled with the number of government regulations the industry is facing. Even with these myriad challenges, Graves rang optimistic on future prospects for the industry and the nation's economic outlook. The trucking sector and all of the freight transportation industry for that matter are comprised of people who know how to get things done and make quick adjustments on the fly.

6.2 Issues
6.2.1 The federal debt and unemployment figures continue to head in the wrong direction 6.2.2 Trucking comprised 81% of revenue and 67% of all tonnage in 2010
6.2.3 Total freight tonnage is expected to grow by 24 % in 2022 and revenue for the entire freight transportation sector is expected to rise by 66 % during the same timeframe
6.2.4 Trucking’s total share of the freight transportation market will bump up to
70% by 2022, although the industry’s share of freight revenue will rise to
81.4 % from 81.2 %t

6.2.5 There are 10 critical issues facing the trucking industry today which are economy, proposed HOS charges,a driver shortage,CSA,fuel issus,congestion, transportation funding,tort reform,onboard truck technology and truck size and weight.