Question

compare and contrast supply and demand considerations for over-the-road transportation.

Answer 1

Transport supply means the ability to accommodate certain particular transportation structures and facilities and ways of transport over a time period. At the same time, transport demand means even though the transport supply are satisfied not wholly, then also the movability needed for that same particular period.

• Relation between transport supply and demand is said to be reciprocal but also asymmetric.
• Transport supply have the ability to survive without respective transport demand, whereas transport demand will not arise without respective transport supply.
• Transport services which have been scheduled, for eg; airlines usually offered transport supply in the case even where demand is not sufficient.
• Infrastructures also keeps at a fixed capacity level more than the expected base situation, in such a case where demand tends to be more than anticipated.

Unit measure for transport supply and demand for Passengers:

1. Passenger km:

It is a common measure which shows the total demand for the passengers while running a transport vehicle over such a distance covered over a period of time.

2. Tonne km:

It is a common measure which shows the total quantity of tons carried by each vehicle (eg Truck) over such a distance over a period of time.

Also both the passenger km and tonne km can be similarly applied for measuring Transport supply.