THE GEOGRAPHY OF TRANSPORT SYSTEMS


Size Larger More throughput and less warehousing.
Facility One storey; Separate loading and unloading bays Sorting efficiency.
Land Large lot Parking space for trucks (often not necessary due to high throughput); Space for expansion.
Accessibility Proximity to highways Constant movements (pick-up and deliveries) in small batches (often LTL); Access to corridors and markets.
Market Regional / National Less than 48 hours service window.
IT Integration Sort parcels; Control movements from receiving docks to shipping dock; Management systems controlling transactions.
 

Characteristics of Large-scale Distribution Centers

The setting of large distribution centers, often part of distribution clusters, has been a dominant trend, particularly among major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target and Home Depot.