Chapter 35: Flexible Transport Systems

In a dynamic economy the demands on a transport network will never be entirely known in advance. Breakthroughs in production, supply chain, and distribution, and the innovation of new products and services will invariably bring to bear demands on a transportation facility or system that its designers did not expect. The capacity of a transportation system to respond to such demands is a product of its flexibility. Generally speaking, flexibility is a favorable attribute. One of the strengths of the automobile highway system is its capacity to accommodate a highly diverse set of vehicles – some general purpose such as private automobiles and light trucks; some highly specialized for particular purposes such as hazardous materials transport – with a wide range of origins and destination. As long as a product can be fitted on a truck trailer, even if it requires special oversize or overweight permits, it can be delivered to its destination without the requirement of a specialized transportation facility for that purpose.