 |  |  |  |  |  |
International commerce, in which all of the world's trading nations
have so large a stake, relies on efficient transportation. The more
efficient that global transportation system is, the smoother will be
the flow of international trade and all that it implies.
World-wide movement of freight requires three different modes of
surface transport: motor carriers, railroads and ships. The existence
of these three modes, with their varying requirements, gives rise to
transit transfer points, where goods are interchanged from one mode of
transport to another.
It is at these points that expensive handling and delays occur, that
most breakage and pilferage take place. It is because interchange
exposure that very costly export packing is needed; interchanges make
yard handlers and longshoremen necessary , create a need for in transit
storage facilities, and produce the congestion of our terminals,
classification yards and dockside areas. Ultimately, interchange
requirements contribute to high insurance rates and inflate total
shipping costs.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
