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can be thought of as transportation after taking into account all the related activities that are considered in making decisions about moving materials.

2.Separate activities or functions, all of which fall under a business firm’s logistics “umbrella,” include customer service, demand forecasting, documentation flow, interplant movements, inventory management, order processing, packaging, parts and service support, plant and warehouse site selection, production scheduling, purchasing, returned products, salvage scrap disposal, traffic management, and warehouse and distribution centre management. These activities must be planned and executed in coordination with each other.

3.Planning and arranging, and buying the transportation services needed to move a firm’s freight is known as traffic management. It is probably the most important element of logistics. The traffic manager is concerned with freight consolidation, carrier rates and charges, carrier selection, documentation, tracing and expediting, loss and damage claims, diversion and reconsignment, demurrage and detention, and movements of hazardous materials. Freight consolidation means the assembling of many smaller shipments into a smaller number of large shipments.

4.First, the company must decide which mode — water, rail, truck, or air — to use for each segment of traffic it handles. Once the modal choice is made, the traffic manager must choose which carrier firm or firms should get the business. After the selection is made and contract signed, the carriers’ performance is monitored to make certain that its quality does not

deteriorate. Documentation is the preparation and handling of all the documents accompanying a shipment, most must be completed before shipping. In the late 20th century, computers and electronic data interchange (EDI) have made documentation less of a burden. Tracing and expediting are related; both involve paying attention to a shipment that is in the carrier’s hands. Tracing is the effort to find a delayed or misplaced shipment. Expediting is an attempt to have a specific shipment move faster than normal through the carrier’s system because it is needed immediately by the consignee. Loss and damage claims reflect the carrier’s responsibility to deliver merchandise in good order. If packages are missing or damaged, the shipper must determine which of these problems were the carrier’s fault and attempt to collect the amount of the damages from the carrier. Diversion and reconsignment cover the practice of starting freight on its way and then deciding to alter its destination. A customer may ask that the freight en route be delivered to the warehouse in city B rather than in city A. In this case, the shipper’s traffic manager has the shipment diverted from city A to city B; reconsigned goods are rerouted after delivery to their original destination. Demurrage and detention reflect the traffic manager’s responsibility to load and unload carrier equipment promptly. If he does not, then the carrier assesses daily detention or demurrage charges until the traffic manager’s firm frees the carrier’s equipment. This is to prevent the shippers and consignees from using the carrier’s equipment as warehouses.

5.Hazardous materials movements require special attention. Sometimes only certain routes, warehouses, and vehicular equipment can be used. Containers and vehicles have special markings, and additional documentation is needed to accompany the shipment.

Read and remember the meanings of the words and phrases.

1.Make a list of key words to define logistics.

2.Complete the sentences using the words in the box.

a)delivered b) warehouse c) packaged d) customer e) goods

(1)____ is a general word used for things that are made to be sold. When the product is finished, it is

(2) ___ (= put in plastic and then in a box) and stored (= kept) in a (3)___. When a (4) ___ orders some of these goods, they are (5) ___ to the shop using road or rail.

3. Read the text again and match the activities (functions) of logistics with their descriptions.

beyond (сверх) the scheduled (запланированный) time of departure.

a)tracing b) reconsignment c) demurrage

III. Decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1.Traffic management is the most important element of logistics.

2.Freight consolidation means the assembling of all the shipments at a single location. 3.Tracing is an attempt to have a specific shipment move faster than normal.

4.All the documents accompanying a shipment are completed after shipping.

5.Vehicles with hazardous materials have special markings.

KEYS to tests for self control Test 15

I 1. e 2. d 3. a 4. f 5. c 6. g 7. b 8. h 9. j 10. i II 1. a 2. c 3. b 4. a 5. c

III 1. T 2. T 3. F 4. T 5. F

Test 16

I 1. d 2. g 3. b 4. j 5. a 6. c 7. i 8. e 9. h 10. f II 1. d 2. a 3. b 4. c 5. e

III 1. T 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. T

Test 17

I 1. i 2. h 3. g 4. f 5. j 6. e 7. a 8. d 9. b 10.c II 1. d 2. a 3. e 4. c 5. b

III 1. T 2. T 3. T 4. F 5. F

Test 18

I 1. i 2. j 3. e 4. b 5. h 6.g 7. d 8. c 9. f 10. a II 1. c 2. d 3. a 4. b 5. e

III 1. b 2. a 3. b 4. a 5. a

Test 19

I 1. i 2. h 3. e 4. b 5. a 6. j 7. d 8. c 9. f 10. g II 1. c 2. b 3. a 4. e 5. d

III 1.T 2.F 3.F 4. T 5. T

Test 20

I 1. j 2. g 3. a 4. i 5. c 6. h 7. f 8. d 9. b 10. e II 1. e 2. d 3. c 4. a 5. b

III 1. F 2. T 3. F 4 F 5. F

Test 21

I 1. h 2. j 3.e 4. f 5. a 6. c 7.i 8.d 9.g 10. b II 1. c 2. d 3. b 4. a 5.e

III 1. T 2. T 3. F 4. F 5. F

Test 22

I 1. e 2. d 3. f 4. a 5. c 6. h 7. b 8. i 9. j 10. g II 1. a 2. c 3. a 4. b 5. c

III 1. T 2. F 3. F 4. F 5. T

GLOSSARY

A

abutment n — a boundary with something

access n, v — a means of approaching or entering a place; a way in; to approach, to enter, use adjacent a — situated near or next to

aggregate n, v — material, e.g. sand or crushed stone, that is mixed with cement and water to make concrete alignment n — arrangement in a straight line

ambient a — on all sides, surrounding

angle n, v — the amount of distance between the directions of two lines; a line or direction of movement, considered in relation to the ground

approach bridge — a bridge that allows to come close to a main bridge arrangement n — the act of arranging

artificial a — created by people, not existing or occurring naturally assemble v — to fit together the parts of something

automation n — the use of automatic equipment and machines to do work previously done by people.

B

balanced a — with all parts combining well together or existing in the correct amount ballast n — a foundation for a road made of different materials: crushed stone, gravel, etc. baseplate n — bearing slab

beam n — a long piece of wood, metal, concrete, etc, usually supported at both ends, that bears the weight of part of a structure

bearing n — a device that allows part of a machine to turn smoothly

bed n — the bottom of the sea, a river, lake; a layer of clay, rock, etc. below the soil on the surface, a stratum; a flat base on which something rests, a foundation

benitoite n, a — a mineral

blast v — to destroy something or break something (especially rocks) using explosives block signals — signals used to operate the block system.

block system — widely adopted signaling arrangement in which the railway is divided into absolute intervals of space known as ‘block sections’. Only one train is allowed into each block section at a time. The sections are controlled by signal boxes at each end. A block section extends from the most advanced starting signal under the control of one box to the first home signal.

bolt n — a metal pin used with a nut for fastening things together

bore n, v — a deep hole made in the ground; to make a hole with a tool or by digging boring n — drilling; bore-hole

boring machine n — a special machine designed for boring

brake n — a device for slowing or stopping motion of a vehicle by contact friction

branch n — smaller and less important division of road or mountain range

C

cable-stayed span — a span with a set of wires for carrying electricity

cantilever n — a beam, usually of metal, projecting from a wall to support a structure

capacity n (CAPY) — the nominal weight of lading the car is rated for, in multiples of 1,000 pounds cast v — to shape hot liquid metal by pouring it into a mould

cast in-situ — cast in the original or proper place of construction site

centralised traffic control (CTC) — a system, in which the signaling of a long section of railway is undertaken from one control point

chamber n — an enclosed space under the ground chord n — a straight line joining two points on a curve climb v — to go up

coach n — the cheapest type of accommodation on trains

commodity n — an article, a product or a material that is bought and sold

communications n — means of exchanging information, as by speech, signals, or writing

commuter n — a person who travels regularly from one place to another, as from suburb to city and back

computer n — an electronic machine that performs high-speed calculations or processes data

concrete-lined a — covered with a concrete

consecutive (measurements) n — following in regular unbroken order consignee n — one to whom freight is consigned

consignor n — one who consigns freight

console n — the portion of a computer that houses the apparatus used to manually operate the machine and that provides a means of communication between the computer operator and the central processing unit

crew n — a group of people working together, gang

cross-passage n — cross narrow ways (corridors) through something crush v — to break something firm or hard into small pieces curvature n — the state of being curved

Cutting bar n —a long straight piece of metal installed on a heavy construction machine used for cutting

D

deck n — a floor

demurrage n — the charge a railroad assesses a shipper or consignee (receiver of goods) for holding a car too long for loading or unloading. This is also computed on a daily basis and usually begins after three days, but with Sundays and holidays free

descend v — to go down

deviation n — a noticeable difference from what is expected; a measurable difference from a standard dispatcher n — one who plans and controls the movement of train

display n — a device that gives information in a visual form

drain v — a pipe or channel that carries away water

dredge v — to clear mud from the bottom using special machine drop (into, down) v — to slope steeply down

E

embed v — to fix something deeply and firmly in a mass of something

emergency n — an unexpected situation or sudden occurrence of a serious and urgent nature that demands immediate action

erect v — to build; to put in position and make it stand upright excavated spoil n — ground, rocks, etc. excavated from tunnel

F

facility n — a piece of equipment, a building, a service, etc., that is provided to facilitate an action or process

feasibility study — a piece of research to see if something is commercially viable

flatcar n — a freight car having a flat floor or deck laid on the underframe, with no sides, ends or roof flood-prone a — likely to suffer from flood

footbridge n — a narrow bridge to be used only by people walking forwarding n — organization of collection, carriage and delivery of goods

freight n — goods being moved from one place to another by transportation lines

freight car n — a general term used to designate all kinds of cars which carry goods, merchandise, produce and minerals

G

girder n — a long strong iron or steel beam gondola car n — a freight car with sides

grout n — a substance like mortar for filling gaps

H

handling n — the work of receiving, storing, packing and sending away goods

hinder v — to stop or delay the advance or development; prevent or get in the way of smth.

hopper car n — a freight car designed for handling bulk commodities such as coal or grain. Hopper cars have floor sheets that slope from the car sides and ends to form a series of pockets, or hoppers, which when opened, can discharge the bulk lading by gravity through hopper doors operated from outside the car.

I

innovation n — something new that is introduced

J

jack n, v — a device for raising heavy weights off the ground

joint n — a place, line or surface at which two or more parts are joined junction n — intersection; a place where two or more railway lines meet

L

land take n — an area occupied for construction site layer n — strata

light weight (LT. WT.) — the unloaded weight of the car in multiples of 100 pounds. Cars are weighed when new and re-weighed periodically thereafter, or when repairs or modifications change the weight

load n — something that is carried by a vehicle

load limit (LD. LMT.) — the maximum permissible weight of contents, including the lading itself, dunnage (pallets, bracing, packing material), and temporary fixtures (ice, fuel, etc.). The load limit is determined by subtracting the light weight from the total weight.

location n, v — a) the act or process of determining the position of, b) a place where something is located, site

locomotive — a self-propelled vehicle used for hauling railroad cars on tracks

longitudinal a — going downwards not across

luggage n — the bags, parcels, and suitcases in which one carries one’s belongings while traveling

M

main line — a principal section of a railway line

multiple-unit train — an electric (emu) or diesel-powered (dmu or demu) train in which the motive power is distributed over a number of car axles instead of being concentrated in a locomotive or driving car. All motors can be controlled by the driver at the front of the train through a master controller connected to all equipments, irrespective of their location. Since the number of motored units can be varied and placed in any desired position in a train and trains can be driven from either end without reversal, mu formations are very flexible in use.

N

network n — something resembling a net in consisting of a number of lines or routes that cross, branch out, or interconnect

O

open coach n — a passenger coach with a center gangway and seats either side and no compartments

open-top car n — any of a group of cars with or without sides and ends, and with no roof, all being intended for transportation of commodities not requiring protection from the weather, such as steel products, coal or rough forest products. Flat, gondola or hopper car are all classed as open-top cars

ooze n — a soft liquid mud outer a — outside

overview — a broad, comprehensive view; survey

P

pad n — a layer to protect something

parapet n — a low protective wall along the edge of a bridge passageway n — a corridor

passenger n — a person who travels in a train, other than the driver or member of the crew

peninsula n — an area of land almost surrounded by water or projecting far into the sea pier n = pillar

pillar n — a tall upright piece of stone, wood or metal used as support for a structure

platform n — the elevated long site, the reinforced concrete structure at the railway track for carrying out different kinds of freight and passenger operations

portal n — a doorway or gate

post-tensioned concrete n — concrete exposed to a tension pre-cast a — made into blocks ready for use in building

R

railway n — mode of land transportation in which flange-wheeled vehicles move over two parallel steel rails, or tracks, either by self-propulsion or by the propulsion of a locomotive

railwayman n — one who works on the railway

reinforced concrete — concrete with metal bars or wires inside it to make it stronger

refrigerator car n — a closed car built with insulation in the floor, sides, ends, roofs, and doors, and some form of refrigeration equipment designed for cooling during transit. Some refrigerator cars are also equipped with heaters for protection of perishable commodities during sub-freezing weather

retarder n — rail-mounted brake to slow down and stop wagons moving by gravity into sorting sidings from a marshalling yard hump. Remotely-operated from the control tower or manually-worked

rolling stock n — engines, carriages, or other vehicles used on a railway

S

safety n — the condition of being secure from danger or harm; freedom from danger, risk, or injury

screen n — a phosphorescent surface upon which the image is formed

schedule n — a list of the passing and stopping times of a particular train on one journey. In the US, a timetable

seepage n — filtration, percolation

siding n — any track which is not a running line and on which vehicles may be loaded, unloaded, stabled, shunted or marshaled

slab n — a thick flat often rectangular or square piece of stone

span n — a distance or part between the supports of an arch or a bridge station n — a place designated in the timetable by name

stratum n — any of a series of layers

switch n — the mechanism which moves the trains from one track to another

T

tank car n — a rail car, the body of which consists of a tank for transporting liquids. Tank cars may be pressure or non-pressure

tenon n — a projecting end of a piece of wood shaped to fit into a mortise to make a joint thixotropic a — having property of becoming fluid by mechanical agitation

ticket agent (clerk) n — a person/firm selling passenger tickets on behalf of railway companies

track circuit — a valuable safety device invented in 1872. It involves the passing of a low voltage electric current through one of the running rails of a section of the line (the rails have to be bonded and insulated joints made at each end of the section), then via a track relay and back through the other rail, thus completing the circuit. Should a train or part of a train be on the line, however, this signal current will take the shorter path through its wheels and axles, thus demagnetizing (de-energizing) the track relay. Should there be an electrical failure or accidental short circuit, the relay is also de-energised, thus ‘failing safe’. By this means signalmen can be informed on track diagrams of the presence and progress of a train on any section, and if track circuiting is continuous, automatic signalling is made possible, since signals in the rear of a train can be made to remain ‘on’ by the opening of the track relay while a train is on the section in advance. Track circuits also enable points to be secured against movement under or in front of an approaching train and, where manual signalling is in use, permit signals or block instruments to be locked or controlled so that signals cannot be moved to ‘off’ while a train (or part of it) is on the section and closing the circuit in the rear of the relay.

train n — a group of coupled cars hauled by a locomotive

train graph — a graphical representation of train movements over a section of line in terms of time and distance. Used in planning timetables.

V

Vee formed a — in the form of letter V

viaduct n — a long bridge usually with many arches, carrying a road or railway across a river valley n — a low area of land between two mountains or hills usually with a river flowing through it

W

walkway n — a passage for people

workstation — a place in an office where a person works, especially with a computer

ENGLISH – RUSSIAN VOCABULARY

A