ABSTRACT
The availability of transportation is one important factor affecting a company’s site selection, as noted in Figure 13.1. To move a product both between countries and within a country, there are three fundamental modes of transportation: air, water (ocean and inland), and land (rail and truck). Ocean and air shipments are appropriate for transportation between countries, especially when the distance is considerable and the boundaries are not joined. Inland water, rail, and highway are more suitable for inland and domestic transportation. When countries are connected by land (e.g., North America), it is possible to use rail and highway to move merchandise from locations, such as from the U.S.A. to Canada. In Europe, rail (train) is an important mode of transport due to the contiguity of land areas and the availability of a modern and efficient train system.
