Our transport system has indeed come a long way. Before the emergence of technology, people had to contend with walking, running, riding animals, and using sleighs as a mode of transport. But with the introduction of technology, things have drastically changed.
Today, modern vehicles such as cars, buses, trucks, ships, and airplanes are common means of transportation. Also, a Transport Management System (TMS) is set in place in every city worldwide, and this market continues to grow amid the pandemic. That is not to mention how we’ve started to explore outer space and launched space crafts in recent years (this alone is a whole different topic).
With the advancement of technology, innovation among service providers, and evolving consumer demands, expect significant changes in the transportation industry in the next few years.
Let’s take a look at the evolution of transportation.
A glimpse of the past
As mentioned, the world started with people walking and running as a way to travel from one place to another. Soon enough, they started relying on animals and sleighs to move and even transport goods and items.
In 3500 B.C, people created crude wheels and learned how to connect them to carts. Thus, carts, wagons, and chariots had become popular at some point in time. During the renaissance period, the Greeks learned how to add gears to their vehicles for power while the Romans began building roads as well. These had become a game-changer in the modes of transportation.
But with the industrial revolution, things have drastically changed. People found new and innovative ways to travel and transport items during the 17th and 18th centuries. That’s when bicycles, boats, cars, and airplanes have come to life.
Today’s mode of transport
People have gone too far in the world of transportation. Today, modes of transport such as scooters, motorbikes, cars, buses, trucks, and trains have become so robust for land transportation. Whether used for personal or business purposes, they have become so advanced in terms of speed, power, efficiency, and overall performance.
The same is true for water transport systems such as boats, cruise ships, cargo ships, tankers, and barges. They do not only allow people to travel, but they also transport goods and items in bulk.
On the other hand, the aviation industry has made it easy for us to travel from one country to another. Now, there are schools offering aviation courses worldwide for pilots to maneuver aircraft. This caters to the growing and consistent needs of people for traveling.
Ultimately, these vehicles have made people’s lives a lot better, easier, and more convenient.
New and emerging trends in transportation
The transportation industry is growing more rapidly than ever before. In fact, we must expect some drastic yet significant changes in the next ten years. Below are some new and emerging trends in the industry:
- Transportation Management System: There is a widespread adaptation of TMS across the globe. Countries and cities have tapped Third-party logistics (3PLs) to adopt this system to help both businesses and clients. These transportation providers even utilize Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) to ensure a consistent supply chain and avoid downtime in business.
- Innovative Transport Providers: Innovative providers related to transportation have sprouted in recent years. Think of companies like Uber and Lyft, as they strive to cater to consumer needs. They’ve become more relevant than ever before during this pandemic. In fact, governments and institutions provide these providers with the utmost support to help the communities.
- Consistent Demand for Drivers: As more and more vehicles are developed, drivers have a consistent demand. In fact, the transportation industry offers a lot of job opportunities to many individuals. Whether you work as a car driver for a ride-sharing app or a truck driver for a delivery company, the industry always has something to offer.
- New and Emerging Technologies: Some of the existing trends in the transport industry include mass transit, shipping and logistics, air travel, manufacturing, and more. However, we’ve also seen new trends such as satellite-Internet innovation by SpaceX and Amazon, electric cars and self-driving technology, and massive transformation in the airline industry. Expect more of these innovations to emerge in the coming years.
There’s no doubt that the transportation industry has indeed come a long way. But there’s no sign of stopping or slowing down for the industry. Even with the emergence of automotive, aviation, and aeronautic sectors, we haven’t reached the pinnacle of evolution as of yet. That’s why we continue to see new and emerging trends in the industry. Ultimately, look forward to how the next ten years will revolutionize the transportation industry.
