Develop an understanding of the core elements within a trucking transportation network - a trucking operational pattern.
Core components are:
Roadway. This can be a simple point-to-point road (as shown in fig XXXX). Or, it can be a complex road network extending a significant distance.
Depots . A depot is located at the supplier and consumer locations.
Tuck(s). One or more trucks capable of carrying the right cargo.
Route. A Route with destination orders and special instructions.
Garage. A Garage that is connected to the Roadway network. The trucks can be purchased and scheduled at this location.
The major positives of a truck network are:
Lower initial cost. The road network for a truck transportation solution is lower cost to implement that a rail solution. This is especially true if the network can use a significant amount of existing roadway.
Ease of building depot in cities. Consumer factories in cities are easily accessed by a truck depot. This requires only one square for construction and utilizes the cities existing road network.
The major negatives of a truck network are:
Traffic congestion. The road network become inefficient or completely blocked by traffic congestion (see the CHAP ON CONCESSION) - ESPECIALLY THE "PRIVATE ROAD'
Lower return on heavy traffic route. A truck network will return a lower profit than a rail network for long, heavily traveled traffic routes.