Abstract
This paper presents some of the economic aspects of the platform method viewed purely from the standpoint of the shipper or receiver of the material. The method is described both as to equipment and its uses, and to its relation to the manufacturing processes. A comparison is made between the total cost of physical distribution and the cost of freight transportation only, pointing out the small influence of the latter factor in the total cost. The field of savings is then discussed, including labor costs, speed of car loadings, the container or skid, and the damage to material. These are illustrated with actual instances which have occurred in various industries.
The paper concludes with a treatment of the possible growth of the system and the four main factors which may influence its more general adoption: namely, (1) the breadth of application to different commodities, (2) the coordination of the system with methods of handling within the plant, (3) the altitude of the railroads and other carriers, and (4) the degree of interchangeabilily developed in the equipment.
