Reliable auto transport is important, no matter why you want to ship a vehicle.

What is it? Auto transport is not a new concept, but it has not always been available to the general public. Before modern days, vehicle transport was something that only dealerships could do. The Internet has changed the way we shop for and purchase everything, including vehicles, so it was important for this niche market to be filled. Today, there are many different auto transporter companies that can fill your needs.

How it works. Shipping something as large as a car, truck, or van may seem overwhelming. Shipping something small only requires that you put an address on in and wrap it up. The carrier will ensure that it is delivered to its destination in a specified time frame. Automobile transport is no different. You will prepare your vehicle for transport, and then a car carriers will pick it up at a specified location. The car, or other vehicle, is then shipped to its destination, where it is delivered within a certain time frame.

Costs. Shipping a large vehicle will always cost more than something you can ship in a box. You should always shop around when you need a car transporter. Remember, most auto transport companies charge based on the weight of the shipment, so do everything that you can to limit the weight of the item that you are shipping. While there are many different ways to do this, making sure the gas tank is low is one of the easiest. What to Remember As you can see, shipping a vehicle is simple, but there are still a few things that you should remember.

Since an automobile is a large investment, you need to make sure that you carry appropriate and adequate insurance coverage in the event of damage or loss. You might have to pay for special coverage while the vehicle is in transit, but it will always be worth it when you find out that the vehicle was damaged during transport.

Old Methods

Before the introduction of auto transport to the moving industry, people had to drive their vehicles to their new home, have them shipped via freight, or sell them and buy a new one in their destination. For most people, none of these options seemed to fit the needs at hand. Freight was expensive, but for those moving overseas it was often the only choice. As fuel prices rose, driving a car, or multiple cars, over a long distance became quite the costly venture, but selling the vehicles didn’t seem like a great idea either. This is why a better method came to light.

Auto Transport Steps Up

A few talented individuals noted the need for this method and stepped up to provide it. Auto transport began as a niche market that few people knew about, but it grew fast. Today, thousands of companies offer this service each day to consumers that need it. Families who are moving often find that it is much cheaper to ship their cars than drive them, especially with modern financial conditions. Moving tends to be a costly event, but having the ability to save on fuel, wear, and human needs throughout the trip came as the light at the end of the tunnel for many.

Getting a Good Company

As mentioned before, there are literally thousands of companies, ranging from small to large, that offer a car shipping service. There are a few steps that can help a person weed out the good companies from the substandard, in order to find the best company to fit your needs. One of the first things that a person should do is talk to others who have used such a service. Often times, the Better Business Bureau is able to provide you with good feedback about a company.

Next, a person should always check out license numbers to make sure that the company is legit. While many small and personally owned companies often provide great service, they should still be legal in the state where they operate. This will prevent any trouble from rising later on in the process. Making sure that insurance coverage is in place will also protect a consumer from damage that may occur in transit. You can reduce your stress and maximize your monetary savings from auto transport by taking these additional steps, even though they may seem like more to do.

Automotive Industry

The automotive industry, one of the most important industries in the world, has left its mark not only on the economy but also on the world cultures. The automotive industry is involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles.

More than 73 million motor vehicles, such as cars and commercial vehicles were produced worldwide in 2007 with a total of 71.9 million of new automobiles sold: 22.9 million in Europe, 21.4 million in Asia-Pacific and 19.4 million in USA and Canada. While markets in North America and Japan have stagnated, those in South America and Asia have grown, with the most rapid growth coming from Russia, Brazil and China.

The Automotive Industry produces automobiles and other gasoline-powered vehicles, like buses, trucks, aeroplanes, and motorcycles, but also electricity-powered vehicles, such as trains. Not only does it provide jobs for millions of people worldwide, but the revenues generated reach well over billions of dollars, providing the necessary base for a wide range of other service and related industries.

The invention of automobiles revolutionized transportation in the early 20th century, and the way people lived and commuted for pleasure or business was forever changed. Goods could be taken farther and faster, and new market areas were now opened to facilitate business and commerce.

Overall costs of production were brought to a minimum with methods such as mass production, meaning that several products were made at once, mass marketing- products were sold nationally not only locally), and last but not least, globalization of production assembling products with parts manufactured all over the world.

However, in 2008 due to increased oil prices the automotive industry is subject to pressures from higher prices of raw material combined to changes in the buying habits of consumers. Moreover, the industry is at the same time up against external high competition coming from the public transport sector, since consumers are just now starting to evaluate the use of their private vehicle.

In North America, the automobile industry is dominated by the famous Big Three:

General Motors (producer of Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac, etc)
Chrysler (Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge)
Ford Motor Co – (Ford, Lincoln and Volvo)

Unfortunately, the automobile also means related problems, like air pollution, the emission of gases leading to imminent global warming, traffic, not to mention fatalities. Nevertheless, the automotive industry is still an important source of employment and transportation for billion of people all over the world.

So in 1983, a group of six artists received invitations to display their works at the Meadowbrook Concours in Detroit. During this exhibition, these artists decided to form an alliance devoted to exchanging ideas and keeping current on trends in automotive art and so the Automotive Fine Arts Society was born. The artist credited with founding this society is Ken Eberts who has been its president since that time. Ken is recognized as one of the world’s leading automotive fine artists. He originally worked in the design department at Ford Motor Company. Then in 1968 he embarked on a second career in automotive fine art. Since then, his works have appeared in magazines, on Christmas cards, posters, and book covers. Ken also has an interest in architecture and many of his automotive works include an automobile set against the backdrop of an interesting building.

He has been a two-time winner of the Peter Helck Award and the Richard Teague Award for the ‘body of work that best exemplifies the spirit of the automobile.’

Bill Neale is also a member of the Automobile Fine Arts Society. In addition to automobiles, Bill paints the people associated with the industry such as drivers and owners. Bill has an aviation background and both cars and airplanes are often featured in his compositions. Bill’s work has appeared in all of the prestigious automotive magazines such as Road & Track, Car & Driver, and Automobile Magazine. He has done posters for many Automobile Concours d’Elegance and other automobile events such as the Monterey Historic Races, Houston Classi-Chassis and Carroll Shelby Nationals. He is the poster artist for the Colorado Grand Rally. He is also the recipient of numerous awards from Europe, the United States and South America including the prestigious Peter Helck and Athena awards.

Jim Dietz is another contemporary artist who paints automobiles. However, Jim is a historical artist who specializes in aviation and military subjects as well as automobiles. Jim is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design. He began his career in art as an illustrator doing automotive ads, movie posters and book covers. But in 1978 he changed from commercial illustration to historical art. In 1997, Dietz won the Stanley Wanlass Award for ‘excellence in strength of design and composition echoing the spirit of the automobile’ at the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance. He also won a Peter Helck Award in 1999 and 2,000 at the Pebble Beach Concours’ d’Elegance. In addition, he has received numerous other awards for his aviation and military art. Like Neale and Eberts, he represents the best of a new genre in art.

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The 2006-2011 World Outlook for Lathe-Cut Rubber Mechanical Goods for Automotive and Transportation

The automotive industry is facing its worst crisis in living history. Sales of vehicles have slumped in most markets and many Vehicle Manufacturers around the world are facing bankruptcy or bail out by governments. ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=51010&rt=Global-Automotive-Logistics.html )

The consequences for the logistics industry are severe. With so much of the logistics sector’s revenues linked to the fortunes of the auto industry it is unsurprising that many companies face an uncertain future. Closure or mothballing of major plants results in shock waves throughout the supply chain.

Within this market environment, understanding the strategies of the Vehicle Manufacturers, Component Suppliers and Logistics Service Providers—whether contract, rail or road—is fundamental to survival and success.

The unique set of circumstances which the industry finds itself in, means that companies need not only long term, strategic information on the production and supply chain management strategies which the major players in the market have adopted, but also information on the impact which crisis-driven management decisions are having right across the logistics industry.

How will you benefit from Global Automotive Logistics 2009?

Global Automotive Logistics 2009 will enable you to gain insight into:

leading Vehicle Manufacturers’ supply chain strategies and their relationships with their logistics providers.

decisions being taken to cut production and their impact on logistics service providers.

development strategies of the key global logistics service providers.

automotive business specific to the shipping, rail and integrated logistics sectors

structure of the industry in the Americas, Asia Pacific (including Japan and China), Western and Central European regions.

inbound, spare parts and finished vehicle logistics markets.

market size and future growth forecasts for the market in the key regions and segments.

key production locations for all the major Vehicle Manufacturers.

Market trends, developments, size and forecasts

Global Automotive Logistics 2009 is packed full of insightful analysis and quantitative data which will give you an all-round understanding of the market and the manufacturers, component suppliers and logistics service providers which operate in it. The report examines the crisis which is affecting the demand-side of the industry and how this is impacting on the key logistics sectors associated with it. It includes market sizing, broken down into inbound, spare parts and finished vehicle segments for the North American, European and Japanese markets as well indicative growth forecasts.

To know more and to buy a copy of your report feel free to visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=51010&rt=Global-Automotive-Logistics.html

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Introduction

Partnership transportation in broad mind means involvement of all parties in the running and operations of transportation and its impact, retrieved from a journal on “facilitating partnership in transportation (2005) page 7 and 8″, by James A Merchant and Barbara T Harder. Transportation and maintenance is a work done by local government and the state in collaboration with other partners. Partnership transportation involves integration of various bodies in the transport sector. Partnership in transportation sector can be classified into two categories. First there is incorporation of all means of transport, this include pipeline transportation method, railway transportation method, airway, shipment, road transportation methods. Second, there is integration of private companies and people that own the vehicles, marine ships, airbuses and pipelines, chamber of commerce and industry that has the potential human resource powers to innovate new technologies that enhance fuel saving, and other automobile associations.

In transportation, no specific body that can handle transportation sector individually without cooperation of other parties as indicated by Mark Wymond-1917-178 pages in his book “Our transportation problem. For example, poor management of institutional framework may deteriorate roads management, railway management etc. Poor conditions of road, railways and airports because of poor services and maintenance may be another issue of concern. Lack of defined responsibilities of each associate party, ineffective and weak management structures can also have adverse effects in the transportation sector. Lack of managerial accountability is another issue of concern; this is because transportation itself is an individual identity. Hence, there must be somebody to respond to various issues that may arise. The responsive party would include government officials and private transport cartels.  Failure due to road and railway engineers adversely affects transportation sector. The government is involved in financing public roads and other means of transportation. The government makes sure that there is rule of law that is followed. It is the work of govern to mitigate the transportation processes.

Historical background

Farming is another issue that resulted to partnership transportation. This included commercial activities occurring as transportation route; this made the construction of various transportation route e.g.  The Chin ago canals, and rail lines were developed, linking the town to other parts of the region. A tract was opened to settlers and land companies by the Clinton treaty in 1788. The growth of Hamilton town was because of stimulation by several main roads, which crossed from east to west. Therefore, there erupted a relationship between the farmers and transportation board in various countries. Transportation of farm produce resulted to growth and development of transportation sector. On the other hand, farmers benefited from easy means of accessing the markets for their produce. In the process, trading started and business thrived tremendously. This resulted to stiff competition that enabled business partners to merge and to come up with an idea to work together, this is how the partnership transportation emerged. That resulted to automobile firms that started competing on manufacturing different kinds of vehicles. Since then the technology has advanced to the manufacturing of space ships.

Status: current issues, practices, developments, controversies and impact of partnership transport.

.The current issues of partnership transportation include commuters and commuting society, insurance and registration, maintenance and repairs, safety and development. There is the issue of confronting the daunting challenge posed by global climatic change. The main source of green house gases like carbon dioxide is burning of fossil fuel by either through burning coals, oils, petrol, kerosene etc. Burning of fossil fuel include even idling. Therefore, global warming is caused by emission of green house gases that pollute the atmosphere and this go hand in hand with industrialization. It is due to industrialization that transportation is enhanced by manufacturing of automobiles. Therefore, there must be away of partnership association in combating the consequences of transportation. It is fair for industrialized countries to enhance the issue of mitigating this effect as they are the main cause.

Global warming is one of the negative impacts caused by the gas emitted by automobiles. Mainly the climatic change is usually caused by pollution that affects the ozone layer. Then the ozone layer becomes less effective in controlling the remittance of radiation from the sun. Therefore, the transport board must tackle this problem since they are part of the cause beside industrialization. In addition, this pollution has a major impact on the quality and feasibility of transit-oriented development.

The current issue of concern is to mitigate fuel consumption and to avoid accidents caused by reckless driving.  Reckless driving practices can have a negative implication on automobile fuel economy. This project of training drivers can enhance fuel economy because experienced experts would save consumption. This is by using simple techniques like cruise control mechanism, pricing whenever possible, avoiding use of cab appliances, soft and gradual acceleration and progressive shifting. All these mechanisms enhance reduction of speed.

Transport sector in collaboration with the traffic police; address this issue by ensuring that transport rules and regulations are adhered to. Transit connectivity plan is improved daily to enhance pediatrician walking; this makes passenger’s movement easy from one movement to another. Goods movement services should be improved to enhance cargo and freight transportation, this include transit expansion program resolution for rail, road, bus and ferry transit projects. Freight movement is essential to any economy and way of life. For example in each year in the US, automobile moved about ten billion tons of freight worth more than 7.5 trillion dollars whereby, the ground freight consumed significant energy and the sector grew as  expected. This is a development issue because over thirty five billion gallons of fuel will increase to about forty five billion by the year 2013. The ground freight industry is large and decentralized; this is because seven million freight trucks and twenty thousand locomotives are in partnership transportation in US and this is not a simple thing.

Another development issue is the ongoing activities concerning pedestrians planning strategies, bicycle riders, community-based planning and development they intend to take. Controversies results due to the need of expanding the transport course, this is because expansion might lead to congestion or evacuation of some people from the intended bypass. This program’s goal is to advance the findings of the lifeline transportation network suggestion through collaboration with community organizations, transit agencies and congestion management agencies in order to minimize the dispute. Therefore, the controversies that arise due to congestion are dealt with. Other developmental plans include new means of transport being innovated to cater for the transportation needs of the countries low-income, elderly and disabled populations. For example, the community-based planning program. This program’s goal is to advance the findings of the transportation network system through collaboration

Going on, there is this issue about the automotive & transportation practice and development.

These are the some of the current practices that include the automotive and transportation practice that provides global market research for the completed automobiles. Industrial  analysis, concurrent business research which involves custom market research and consultation, market predicament, management consulting and innovation of new strategies result to emerging technologies that are designed to help transportation sector to address current trends and challenges affecting transportation sector and partnership. Another function is to identify new technologies that can lead to advantageous opportunities for growth. This work involves a  global team of automotive and transportation market research analysts, industry experts, and market consultants who continuously monitor the automotive and transportation industry including logistics, rail systems, automotive testing, diagnostic sand new chassis technologies. In this partnership transportation, there is training for drivers to be equipped with driving dynamics. This is because, new  commercial vehicles that are being manufactured have these new technologies, for example  telemetric and infotainment, power train ,alternative propulsion, safety and  driving assistance not forgetting warning systems.

Other current developments include, tire technology that involve automatic tire inflation systems of which tires with wide base are manufactured. In tire inflation system, there is adjustment of the level of tire pressure. This maintains proper tire pressure especially when the automobile is moving; hence facilitating longer service for the tire It is known that tires with wide base can reduce friction and resistance on the road. This would lead to saving consumption of fuel and other fuel related expenditure.

Tire technologies improve on reducing accidents by stabilizing the vehicles movement and grasping on the roads. Furthermore, there is production of low-viscosity lubricants that are used in breaks and other movable parts, less viscous artificial and semi-artificial lubricants can reduce friction losses in automobile drive train, emission of gases, and its engine friction. This actually saves the fuel consumption and hence emission of harmful gases.

Going on, synthetic transmission and oil lubricants can raise fuel economy by 0.7 and 2.1 percent in summer and winter respectively. Good news is that by replacing all transmission lubricants with less viscous fluid saves fuel with less or no additional cost. Other development systems are low weight body parts. This is enhanced by sing materials made of aluminum or other lightweight materials. By reducing weight, much oil consumption can be reduced. Actually, the possibility for weight savings is even greater in the automobile. Lastly, there is use of inter modal shipping systems and hybrid power train technology advancement.

Social, economic and environmental aspect

It is visible that Urban Partnership Program proposal to deliver congestion reduction by 2009 through a bold program combing the affiliated parties and experts concerned in tolling, advanced technology, transit and transportation if effective will address some controversies. The current controversies affecting the transportation sector include lack of agreement on terms of scrutiny. There are two controversy terms, that define the impact of partnership transportation i.e. there is technical controversy that defines failure due to decision of an expert appointed by the parties and non-technical controversy that deals with the rules and regulations. The latter, involves bleaching of the contract that involves disputes arrangement on investment. This happened in an oil transportation controversy whereby they wanted the project to be concerned in establishing standards service for the future, rather than examining current controversies about work programmed.  Overcrowding and reliability is also another negative impact caused by partnership transportation. This is a sensitive issue in transportation that require more detailed hearing to solve the pending problems

Some of these pending issues include, perceived transport problems, factors influencing travel behavior, transport licensing board service provision, infrastructure schemes, partnership approaches and innovative solution.

Conclusion

Partnership transport is a broad business operation that currently integrates all areas of work. It has enabled the world to be seen as a global village. In essence, partnership transports easies the work of transportation and collaboration in the sector and other chambers of commerce.  However, the controversies and negative effects should be dealt with immediately when they arise. Safer means of transport should be innovated to avoid negative impact such as pollution to the environment, air pollution and water pollution.

Therefore, it is of great importance to associate all stakeholders in transportation sector e.g. oil companies should manufacture lead free fuel to lessen the negative impact caused by the fuel.  Actually, the engine life and service is directly related to the amount of fuel burned. In essence, the reduction of driving speed can minimize the cost of repairing the engine. The maximum automobile driving speeds can be minimized through electronic software engine controlling mechanism, improved driver-training programs, or I house programs that motivate drivers for abiding with the rules and regulations. Almost, all new automobile engines in use today are electronically manipulated and the cost of changing the highest acceleration setting on these engines is to some extent negligible. The stated mechanisms, developments and resolutions to partnership transportation are the currents undertaking towards strengthening of the transport sector.

References:

Current developments in airport expansion, retrieved on 25th August 2007

Current undertakings on transportation sector, retrieved on 29th August 2007

Fleet strategies, retrieved on 29th August 2007

James A Merchant and Barbara (2005) Transportation: Facilitating partnership transportation, page 7 and 8 New York

Transport scrutiny update, retrieved on 25th August 2007

Transportation problems, retrieved on 25th August 2007

Jacques and Whit ford (2003) Environmental impact: Road environmental aspects, published by St Johns N, L London

Smart innovation in technologies, retrieved on 29th August 2007

Transportation and Logistics (T&L) sector is bucking the trend with mergers and acquisition activity with deal flow on the increase.

The industry is facing a perfect storm with rising fuel costs, lower demand and excess capacity cutting into margins. The answer for a large majority of the well funded industry players has been acquisitions.

Customer diversification has been a key variable fuelling some of the appetite.  For instance, T&L companies servicing the automotive sector have seen loads and shipments drop-off a cliff.  Buying companies exposed to different segments of the industry allow idle or underutilized assets to buoyant segments. ”Organic growth in this market is tough – we’re relying on acquisitive growth over the next 12-month” says one industry executive.

Another variable fuelling consolidation is the customer seeking increasing choice and flexibility in terms of the service offering.  No longer do they want to deal with one company for their import/export needs, another for their domestic transportation and yet another for their warehousing. Customers want a one-stop shop.  Acquisitions allow a T&L provider to offer complimentary services virtually overnight.

Lastly, the value proposition to build economies of scale in the T&L space are compelling. Fixed costs on technology platforms and other revenue generating assets, once covered allow for every incremental dollar of revenue to flow to the bottom-line.

Real money is made in tough times. The challenge is in uncovering the opportunities amongst the turmoil.

Bharatbook.com has announced the addition of “Freight Transport Report Brazil” (http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=18598) to their offering.

Independent 5-year Freight Transport industry forecasts for Brazil.

Original Freight Transport market research and Freight Transport sector trend analysis for the Brazil Freight Transport industry.

Competitive intelligence, Brazilian Freight Transport company rankings and SWOT analyses on international and domestic Freight Transport companies in Brazil.

The Brazil Freight Transport Report has been researched at source, and features latest-available data covering commercial transport and logistics by road, rail, air and water; 5-year industry forecasts through end-2011; company rankings and competitive landscapes covering leading multinational and national operators; and analysis of latest industry trends, opportunities, projects and regulatory changes.

Brazilian Freight Transport Report provides industry professionals and strategists, sector analysts, investors, trade associations and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on the Brazilian freight transport and logistics industry.

Key Benefits of Reports

Benchmark It’s Independent 5-year Freight Transport Industry Forecasts on Brazil to test other views – a key input for successful budgetary and planning in the strategic Brazilian Freight Transport market.

Target Business Opportunities & Risks in the Brazilian Freight Transport sector through our reviews of latest industry trends, regulatory changes and major deals, projects and investments in Brazil.

Exploit the Latest Competitive Brazilian Freight Transport intelligence & company SWOTS on your competitors and peers through company rankings by sales, market share and ownership structure – includes multi national and national companies in Brazil.

Coverage

Executive Summary

Summary of It’s key industry forecasts, views and trend analysis covering Freight Transport and logistics, regulatory changes, major investments and projects, and significant multinational and national company developments.

SWOT Analysis

SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis of the state’s business environment, transport sector, politics and economics, which carefully evaluates the short- and medium-term issues facing the industry.

Business Environment Rankings

It’s regional comparative analysis of the transport sector, evaluating sector-specific issues alongside the broader Country Risk context; including sector growth, political and economic stability, the competitive environment and trade volume expansion.

Industry Trends And Developments

Analysis of latest projects across the Freight Transport sector – road, rail, air, sea, logistics – including market overview which provides an outline of the key elements driving development.

It 5-Year Industry Forecast

Historic data series and 5-year forecasts to end-2011 for all key industry and macroeconomic indicators, supported by explicit assumptions, plus analysis of key downside risks to the main forecast, including:

Port freight total (tonnes mn); Seaborne freight (tonnes mn)

Riverborne freight (tonnes mn); Airport freight (tonnes mn)

Total traffic by mode (tonnes/km); Freight industry value (US$bn)

Contribution to GDP (%); Sector employment (‘000); Population growth (mn); Nominal GDP (US$bn); Real GDP growth (%)

Consumer price index (%y-o-y average); Total imports (US$bn) and exports (US$bn); Current account (US$bn); import and export value by goods category (US$bn, % of total), top trade destinations/ sources (US$bn, % of total).

Competitive Landscape & Profiles

Company profiles, including SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analyses, fully researched senior executives and full contact details and business activity.

Executive Summary

The Sector At A Glance

Key Insights On The Freight Transport Sector Of Brazil

In January 2007, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva proposed setting aside another BRL1.34bn (US$638.2mn) for the North-South Railway in his new Growth Acceleration Package, or PAC. The package should help develop infrastructure immensely over the coming years. The North-South railway already runs from the northern Tocantins state city of Araguaina to Porto Franco in Maranhao state, where its tracks connect with the Carajas rail line run by Brazilian iron-ore giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD). The Carajas line links Porto Franco to Maranhao’s deep-water Port of Itaqui – a port that is likely to surpass the country’s deeply congested principal ports of Santos and Paranagua in future years to become Brazil’s No. 1 port, if the right funds are invested, said the National Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA). If Lula’s proposal to allot an extra BRL1.3bn in government funds is approved by congress, the railway will extend another 358km from Araguaina to the Tocantins state capital of Palmas by 2009, said Andre Oliveira, the head of construction of VALEC, which is the government’s partner in the North-South railway. After that, more funds will be needed to connect the North-South Railway to its expected destination of Anapolis in Goias state, he added.

The completed Goias-Maranhao rail line, which will span more than 1,500km, is expected to carry 15mn tons of cargo annually. In our latest Brazil Freight Transport report, It concludes that, thanks to the performance of MRS Logística and other private sector freight rail operators, total freight carried can be expected to grow at an annual average rate of 8.8% over the 2007-2011 period.

Various factors support this prediction. We now expect annual Brazilian GDP growth to average 3.8% in the 2007-2011 period (up from 2.6% in the preceding five-year period). While this will underpin general freight demand, as a result of continuing commodity and mining growth, rail should enjoy a particularly favourable combination of strong demand and expanding capacity, as new investment goes into the operations of the privatised operators.

The overall freight picture will be encouraging. There continue to be no reliable statistics on Brazilian road freight haulage. However, based on It estimates, we expect freight carried to be growing somewhat more slowly than rail, at an average of around 5.7% per annum, because investment to improve and repair the highway network will take longer to have an effect. Despite the collapse of Varig and a slower year in 2006, we also see airfreight continuing to perform vigorously. We now expect the growth figure in 2007-2011 to be an annual average of 8.2%, compared to 3.2% in 2002-2006. Total tonnage handled by Brazil’s main seaports will rise by an average of 6.2% per annum in the forecast period, down on the 7.0% registered in the preceding five years. The main reason for this is that after the foreign trade and export boom peaked in 2004, we see both import and export growth moderating significantly in the next few years, when domestic consumption is likely to be the main engine of macroeconomic growth.

Brazil performs reasonably well in our freight transport industry business environment matrix, scoring above the regional average. Freight growth, infrastructure growth, the regulatory and competitive environment all score well. Economic and political risk is comparable to the Latin American peer group. The transport intensity index is a little below the regional average, although there is something of a question mark over the future dynamism of the country’s foreign trade. Foreign trade still represents only around 25% of GDP, although on the other hand the sheer geographical size of the country means there will be healthy internal demand for freight transport.

According to our latest estimates, the total value of transport and communications GDP will rise to US$75.4bn in nominal terms by 2011, representing 6.4% of Brazil’s GDP. The transport and communications sector employed 4.26mn people, or 4.7% of the labour force, in 2006. We see these figures rising to 5.56mn – and 5.2% – by 2010.

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Is leasing a car, rather than purchasing a car on time payments a good thing or not. As with questions in life, it all depends on your financial and/ or automotive situation and as well who tells the story.

It is true that business can write off lease costs whereas that is not such an advantage to an individual car user. However this is not necessarily so. First it all depends on your situation and as well you’re negotiating skills. It is always better to be in an informed and prepared manner.

First of all leasing a car is downright attractive due to current low interest rates. Almost every month you will read in the popular news that the “Fed has cut interest rates again”. What this means to you is that in an overall sense that interest rates are less to you. This should mean lower leasing costs to you. If interest rates, in the banking industry and market are lower, so should be the interest rate basis in your lease negotiations and payments.

What are the advantages of leasing a vehicle? You will get a new vehicle to drive. When your leasing agreement term is over – then you hand the car in and walk away.

It may be debated that by leasing the car you will have no equity or asset accumulation left at this point in this automotive transaction. If you had bought the car, with payments, the car would be yours at some point, lock stock and barrel.

However major components and overall costs of running a car are maintenance costs. With a new vehicle – it is unlikely that you will incur these costs. First of all the car is new. Major repairs and costs are unlikely. In addition the car will come with a manufacturer’s warranty which should cover you for the majority if not all of the lease time period.

With modern, newer and especially smaller cars it seems that all repairs seem to be very expensive. After a certain point of time, use and mileage, it is not as if the car “nickel and dimes” you to death. Most of the innards of modern cars seem to be electronic in nature with advanced (read expensive and hard to fix) modules. There are few simple to repair mechanically based, non electronic component, cars. In addition for mechanics to work on cars now “everything is struggle’ “and as well spaces are tight and very hard to work within. In a summary the old “nickels and dimes” are now “five hundreds, thousands and several thousands”. With a leased car arrangement you may not own the car, with its equity. Neither do you have repair costs and heartaches. In addition you have a reliable vehicle to get you to work or to chauffer around your family.

There are several terms and factors to be knowledgeable about in your calculations and comparisons for auto purchase versus lease workup and lease negotiations.

First of all research the leasing tax rules in your jurisdictions. For example in your state you may well only pay sales taxes on monthly payments, not on the cost of the vehicle. It all depends on the negotiations of your payments- which involve the time frame and value of the car at the take back time end of lease.

Next what are the fees? For example the fee at the end of turn in, paperwork fees and fees for “excess miles”. Are these negotiatiable? In the case of the “excess mileage” and “excess mileage fees” are these carved in stone or can the allotment or rates charged be reduced? In the case of the “turn in” fee. If you offer to increase your monthly payment – often this fee will be reduced.

In order to best negotiate you will have to speak the same language and terms as the lease negotiator. Several terms to know, comprehend and understand are “Capitalized Cost”, “Money Factor” and “Residual Value”.

Simply put the cost of the leased vehicle is confusingly described as the “Capitalized Cost”. Just as you would haggle over the cost of buying a new car, you should not accept a stated price or manufacturers suggested retail price (M.S.R.P.) as the price paid.

Haggle and argue over the “Capitalized Cost” just as you would in any car or automotive deal.

Next in line in proper automotive leasing terms is the term “Money Factor”. “Money Factor “is the interest rate upon which the leasing calculations are based upon. The lower the number of the “Money Factor”, the better for you. As a rough guide and estimate multiply the “Money Factor” value by 2550 to get an estimate of the relevant interest rate.

Last in the line of leasing and leasing lingo is the term “Residual Value”. “Residual Value” is the amount that the car, S.U.V. or truck vehicle is said to be worth at the end of the lease period. Simply put, the more the vehicle is deemed to be worth, at this time period, the less will be your total amount due to be paid overall for your lease. Thus the higher the “Residual Value” at the end of your lease, the much lower will be your monthly lease payments.

In the end, your car purchase or lease decision will come down to two factors. Reliability of transportation and the total cash outlay from your personal pocketbook or wallet.