While we have previously focused on automation in manufacturing, we will now shift our focus to the increased automation in transportation. Although I have briefly talked about changes in transportation before, I will now delve into the history of each of the main methods of cargo transportation.
A Brief History:
Humans have had a need to move goods for as long as there has been civilized society. In the earliest days of civilization, goods were carried on land, using pack animals. In approximately 3500 B.C., the wheel was invented in Iraq. This was perhaps the most important innovation in the history of mankind, and it greatly revolutionized transportation and travel. Whereas before traders were limited to whatever an animal could carry for a small distance, with the wheel, they were now able to transport a much larger quantity of goods over a much larger distance. Although not technically a form of “automation”, the wheel, for obvious reasons, is extremely important to mention when discussing transportation. Centuries later, engines would be added to vehicles with wheels, and the automobile would be born. Usage of trucks quickly became one of the most common forms of cargo transportation, as they are cheap, quick, and able to go to places where there may not be access to an airport or port.
While the majority of early transportation was done on land, and water travel very restricted, in 3100 B.C. the Egyptians invented the first sailing boat. With this technology, goods were now able to be moved across previously impassable bodies of water. This opened up trade routes between Northern Africa and Mediterranean Europe, for example. As time went on, shipping technology improved, with each ship’s speed and range increasing over the centuries. Eventually, advances in shipping technology allowed for the discovery of the New World and the Colombian Exchange in later centuries. While early ships were dependent on the wind for power, steam and coal engines allowed ships to sail under their own power. This greatly improved their speed, as they could now move under their own power. As the years went by, ships increased in size and capability, but the most important innovation in shipping was the container system. Utilized by the U.S. military during the Korean War, the container system drastically cut costs and made unloading much faster. This is why shipping today plays a large role in the world economy, as it is the cheapest form of mass transportation and is a relatively fast way to move large quantities of goods between continents.
Perhaps the technology most important to the growth of the United States in the 19th century was the railroad. Developed in Great Britain, the railroad gained prominence as a form of transportation in the U.S in the 1830’s. The railroad was much cheaper than the canal (the primary form of inland transportation up until that point), cutting transportation costs by anywhere from 60-70%. Railroads eventually sprung up all throughout the country, and the North’s superior railroad system that made transportation of man and materiel quick and easy is credited with playing a large part in the Federal victory in the Civil War (along with their superior manufacturing capabilities).
The Transcontinental Railroad, completed in the 1860’s, was one of the most important steps in unifying the two coasts of the United States. Today, railroads are still used to transport large quantities of goods, although they have largely fallen out of favor with passengers due to high costs and unreliability.
Even in the earliest days of aviation, companies looked to use airplanes to move goods quickly. It was not until after the Second World War that the first commercial transport airlines emerged, however. Air transport was largely an afterthought until Federal Express catapulted the technology , and its related system, to new heights. By combining cargo shipments with existing cargo routes, FedEx was able to drastically reduce the cost of their shipments and offer services like guaranteed next day shipping, which in the 1970’s was a very novel concept. In its first 10 years, the company reported profits in excess of $1 billion, an amount unheard of for such a young company. Today, the vast majority of air cargo is carried by freight services such as FedEx, UPS, and the United States Postal Service, who all utilize systems similar to the one developed by FedEx. Many major passenger airlines also offer a cargo division that companies can use to ship freight as well.
In the modern era, both trucks, container ships, and cargo planes play a large role in the movement of freight. Technology is increasingly advancing, and companies like Tesla are now testing automated 18-wheelers. Whether or not these technologies will be successful remains to be seen. Who knows what other methods of transportation will arise as companies seek to lower their bottom line and increase profits.