Since the end of World War II the
volume of
inland and international transport has increased enormously. The transport
system has been improved. A network of motorways has been contructed, many
ports and airports have been modernized, and fast rail services have been
extended.
Three things are expected from a modern transport
systém: it must be as safe as possible, as fast as possible and as cheap as
possible. The cheapest way to transport goods from country to country is by sea
or by inland waterways. Ships can carry enormous cargoes, the biggest tankers
také a million tons of oil, for example. But ships are slow and goods must
often travel to and from the ports by road and rail for a long time.
In modern
times an increasing amount of goods travel by air. Air cargoes suffer less than
cargoes sent by sea, road or rail, and air transport is very fast. In the past,
planes were used only for light or very expensive good but now cargo planes are
getting bigger and the volume of air cargo has increased very much. Although
the air journey itself is expensive, a saving can be made on packing and also
the insurance may be lower. Of course, some cargoes such as coal, wood, oil,
and other raw materials will continue to travel by sea or rail.