LG312 Park University Logistics and Railroad Questions Response Ok, so professor is being super confusing. He wants us to answers homework questions but not by rewriting the questions and just leading into the answers. Here is what he said:” Most of you are doing what students normally do, and retype the HW questions before providing your input. I highly recommend you not do this! Look at the HW as “mini-term papers” and restate the question as a lead-in to your narrative response.
For example, HW1, Q1: Transportation has sometimes been described as the glue that holds global supply chains together. What is the meaning of this statement and do you agree? Why or why not?
“Restate this in your own words, but something like this: Transportation is described as the “glue” that holds supply chains together, The reasons for this are …..”
This way you have a proper narrative, term paper-style lead in to the explain the question and your feelings as to why it is, or is not, relevant. I hope you see where I’m going here — I want you to use these assignments to really sharpen your writing skills and voicing your understanding/assimilation of the material.
Use other sources and personal experiences/observations rather than just spewing forth stuff from the text. SHOW me you understand what the question is asking and how you feel about it.”So I have attached a copy of what I submitted that he rejected and stated that it needs to be rewritten. I have also attached a copy of an example he sent out. Please take a look at it and rewrite my answers to the correct format. 1. What do the Hours of Service (HOS) represent and how does it affect the logistics of a
product line?
The HOS were adopted to keep fatigued drivers off the public roadways. These regulations
put limits in place for when and how long large truck drivers may drive, to ensure they stay
awake and alert while driving, and on a continuing basis to help reduce the possibility of
driver fatigue. HOS limit the logistics to certain travel times per day but are in place for the
benefit of the public.
2. Within the FMCSA website, you’ll find information concerning Drug and Alcohol
testing. Who is affected and what types of testing takes place?
All drivers that operate a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in 49 CFR §382.107, which
requires a driver holding a commercial driver’s license, are subject to the Drug and Alcohol
testing requirements in 49 CFR Parts 40 and 382. (See 49 CFR §383.3 . This includes, but is
not limited to: full time, regularly-employed drivers; casual, intermittent or occasional
drivers; leased drivers and independent owner-operator contractors.
3. Review websites www.roadway.com and www.jbhunt.com. Compare and contrast the
services offered on at least three topics.
Roadway is purely a shipping company and JB Hunt is a trucking company. Both are large
competitors in the logistics industry and cover most of the U.S. But Roadway also has
coverage in Mexico and Canada. JB Hunt offers more diverse supply chain solutions than
Roadway.
4. Review the Federal Railroad Administration web site www.fra.dot.gov. Click on
“Freight Railroading”, “Issue Briefs” and “Staggers Rail Act of 1980”. What is the
significant about the rail act? Please be thorough but concise.
With the passage of the Staggers rail Act of 1980 and its implementation by the Interstate
Commerce Commission (ICC, now the Surface Transportation Board (STB)), many
regulatory restraints on the railroad industry were removed, providing the industry increased
flexibility to adjust their rates and tailor services to meet shipper needs and their own revenue
requirements. As a result, 30 years after deregulation, the railroad industry’s financial health
has improved significantly, service to rail customers has improved while overall rates have
decreased, and rail safety, regardless of the measure, has improved.
5. What is the CSX railroad system? Please review website www.csx.com. Describe the
warehouse and intermodal services.
CSX Corporation, together with its subsidiaries based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the
nation’s leading transportation suppliers. The company’s rail and intermodal businesses
provide rail-based transportation services including traditional rail service and the transport
of intermodal containers and trailers.
Overall, the CSX Transportation network encompasses about 21,000 route miles of track in
23 states, the District of Columbia and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Our
transportation network serves some of the largest population centers in the nation. Nearly
two-thirds of Americans live within CSX’s service territory. The CSX warehouse service
maintains a steadfast commitment to the safety and security of our network, our customers
and their freight, and the communities where we operate. They have developed some of the
most effective programs in the rail industry to keep customers’ shipments safe and secure.
The intermodal service is using 2 modes of transportation in which the benefits are secure
access to capacity, lower freight transportation costs and reduction of carbon emissions.
References
Impact of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 | Federal Railroad Administration. (2018). Retrieved
from https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/Details/L03012
US Department of Transportation. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.transportation.gov/
YRC Freight – The Original LTL Carrier Since 1924. (2018). Retrieved from http://yrc.com/
Freight Shipping Services from J.B. Hunt | J.B. Hunt Transport. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.jbhunt.com/
The U.S. Department of Transportation is the main organization at the head of organizing and managing
our nation’s transportation systems. Their mission statement defines their goal to provide the safest,
most efficient means of transportation possible in our modern day. The United States is interconnected
by roads, waterways, railroads, and open skies; all of these things are domain of the U.S. DOT. Although
the DOT isn’t specifically responsible with the creation and implementation of new and improved means
of transporting both people and cargo throughout the U.S, they are responsible for generating and
developing policies that govern the use and guidelines associated with our national systems in place.
There are numerous operating administrations that fall under the U.S. DOT, 13 to be exact. These
administrations are compartmentalized in order that the following areas of focus may be effectively
employed: automobiles, aviation, bicycles and pedestrians, public transit, pipelines and hazmat,
railroads, trucking and motor-coaches, maritime and waterways, and roadways and bridges. The 13
operating administrations are each tasked with handling their own fundamental category relating to
transportation.
To begin, the main group and majority of administrations relate with land or road transportation and
consist of the FHWA, the FMCSA, the FRA, the FTA, the NHTSA, and the PHMSA. The Federal Highway
Administration is in place to assist state and local governments with developing, building, and
maintaining the U.S. highway system; in addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
solely relates to highway transportation but with more focus on the vehicles traveling on them. The
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration carries a sole focus of reducing the amount of deaths and
injuries that involve crashes with large trucks and buses (US DOT). The Federal Railroad Administration
regulates all transportation that involves trains whether they are moving cargo or people. The Federal
Transit Administration assists with most forms of public transportation commonly found in large cities
including subway, trolley, buses, and even ferries. Lastly, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration is established to safely manage the transportation of energy, fuels, and other
environmentally hazardous materials our economy is so dependent on today (US DOT).
Moving on from road, land, and solid ground, the other two main categories of transportation are by air
and water. The Maritime Administration is the operating force behind all of the United States’ waterbased transportation including vessel freight and coastal port functions; in addition to MARAD regarding
water transportation, the SLSDC was created solely to utilize and maintain the Saint Lawrence Seaway
located between Lake Erie and the Port of Montreal (US DOT). Now last but most certainly not least is
the Federal Aviation Administration which essentially manages anything and everything involved with
air traffic whether it is drones buzzing around in town or jets flying 40,000 feet above.
The final four operating agencies deal with subjects relating to transportation, however, they operate
with a more all-encompassing approach. The Office of Inspector General acts as the quality assurance
branch to enforce regulations, conduct inspections, and maintain uniform standards throughout the U.S.
Department of Transportation programs. The Office of the Secretary deals with a majority of
transportation policy and legislation which establishes guidelines most other offices must abide by (US
DOT). The Bureau of Transportation Statistics provides the US DOT with logistical analysis, data
collection, and even provides recommendations on how improvements in efficiency can be made. The
final operating administration under US DOT is the VOLPE center which is responsible for research
and development of U.S. transportation so they lead the implementation of improvements and
innovation as well as measure the results (US DOT).
References
US Department of Transportation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.transportation.gov/.
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