THE GEOGRAPHY OF TRANSPORT SYSTEMS
| Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | |
| Period | Up to the mid 19th century | Mid 19th century to mid 20th century | Late 20th century | Late 20th century, early 21st century |
| Development rationale | Rise in trade | Industrialization | Globalization | Logistics |
| Main port function | Cargo handling; Storage; Trade | Cargo handling; Storage; Trade; Industrial manufacturing | Cargo handling; Storage; Trade; Industrial manufacturing; Container distribution | Cargo handling; Storage; Trade; Industrial manufacturing; Container distribution; Logistics control |
| Dominant cargo | General cargo | Bulk cargo | Containers | Containers and information flows (supply chain) |
| Spatial scale | Port city | Port area | Port region | Port network |
| Role of port authority | Nautical services | Nautical services; Land and infrastructure | Nautical services; Land and infrastructure; Port marketing | Nautical services; Land and infrastructure; Port marketing; Network management |
Source: adapted from Van Klink, A. (2003) "The Kempen nexus" in R. Loyen, E. Buyst and G. Devos (eds) Struggling for Leadership: Antwerp-Rotterdam Port Competition between 1870-2000, Heidelberg , New York: Physica: pp. 143-159.
Four major stages can be identified, each corresponding to a specific era in the commercial geography.