CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Background to the study

Moving people or goods from one place to another is the conceptual understanding of transportation. Infrastructure, methods, and operations are the three main areas of study for transportation management (Britannica, 2023).

Freight flows which are a physical manifestation of economic interactions, by which supplies produced at a given location, are transported to other places for consumption, either as intermediate, or final goods by travel agencies. These flows are pervasive, as in modern economies virtually all sectors of the economy need supply of one kind or another, thereby necessitating the need for freight management at travel agencies.

Freight management in the travel agencies and transport sector involves planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient flow of goods, services, and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption. Its primary goal is to meet customer requirements through effective forward and reverse logistics and storage processes (Cruijssen, Cools & Dollaert, 2013). Freight management activities in travel agencies typically involve inbound and outbound transportation management, track and trace systems, fuel management, order fulfillment, and logistics network design. Additionally, they encompass the management of fourth-party logistics service providers (Lau & Zhang, 2016).

To varying degrees, the freight management function also includes sourcing and procurement, production planning and scheduling, and customer service. It is involved in all levels of planning and execution strategic, operational, and tactical. Freight management is an integrating function which coordinates and optimizes all logistics activities, as well as integrates logistics activities with other functions, including marketing, sales, manufacturing, and information technology in the manufacturing sector (Bask, 2011).

Transportation plays a connective role among the several steps that result in the conversion of resources into useful goods in the name of the ultimate consumer. It is the planning of all these functions and sub-functions into a system of goods movement in order to minimize cost maximize service to the customers that constitutes the concept of business logistics. The system, once put in place, must be effectively managed (Islam & Zunder, 2013). The role that transportation plays in logistics system is more complex than carrying goods for the proprietors. Its complexity can take effect only through highly quality management. By means of well-handled transport system, goods could be sent to the right place at right time in order to satisfy customers’ demands (Lai et al., 2012).

In the developing World, land logistics is a very important link in logistics and freight management related activities. It extends the delivery services for air and maritime transport from airports and seaports. However, freight Management at travel terminals is often not an area of core competence for many travel agencies. In order to compete successfully in the dynamic manufacturing environment, travel agencies are increasingly choosing to focus on their own area of competence and expertise. It brings efficacy, and also it builds a bridge between producers and consumers. Hence, transportation serves as the cornerstone of efficiency and economic viability in business logistics, while also facilitating the expansion of other functions within the logistics system. In addition, a good transport system performing in logistics activities brings benefits not only to service quality but also to company competitiveness (Lau & Goh, 2014).

In the Cameroon economy, the primary mode of transportation supporting logistics activities is road transportation. As an underdeveloped Country, Cameroon has not experienced the integration of computer base applications capable of managing freight management related activities at travel agencies terminals such as; reservation, payment processing, safety, security, movement of cargo amongst others (World Bank, 2017). This adversely affects transported service providers based intra urban transportation. While there are challenges in freight management for travel agencies in Cameroon, proactive measures and strategic initiatives can help overcome these constraints and improve overall efficiency and competitiveness.

In Bamenda, the systems of roadways are not capable of carrying the volume of traffic necessary to support the social and economic needs of the region and withstanding the stress of heavy loads of freight (Ngwang, 2018). This in return affects travel agencies engaged in intra-urban freight and passenger transportation. For the purpose of promoting the economic growth, transportation policymakers have the primary role in funding the construction and upgrading of roads and motorways. While Amour Mezam on its parts as a travel agency has embarked on expansion of its stations in Bamenda town freight management at the agency still remains a major call for concern.

1.2. Statement of the Problem

Globalization of complex industrial production processes has increased the importance of freight management in the global supply chain. Freight management activities at travel terminals are no longer limited to just cargo handling and documentation; other infrastructural provisions and services in an international context have become a core part of the business. Poor infrastructural provisions, take a large toll on a travel agency’s competitive advantage. Despite such significance, the impacts of freight management and constraints at travel agencies on country’s trade and economy have largely been overlooked. In Cameroon, a lot has been said and even more left out about freight management and constraints at travel agencies. The current day-to-day activities at travel agencies are slow and inefficient due to inefficient freight management techniques arising from inadequate planning, limited visibility, inefficient transportation utilization, ineffective communication, inadequate technology adoption, inaccurate documentation, and skill gaps. In Bamenda town, Amour-Mezam travel agency engaged in intra-urban transportation utilizes freight management techniques to achieved its objectives. However, the rapid increase in population and demand for urban transportation posed serious threats on freight management technique and operational performance at travel terminal. It is observed that freight management challenges at Amour-Mezam travel agency in Bamenda Town contributes to delays or disruptions in the handling, loading, or unloading of freight, thus increased operational costs, decreased efficiency, and logistical bottlenecks. It is against this background that the study seeks to examine freight management and constraints at Amour-Mezam travel agency.

1.3 Research Questions

1.3.1 Main Research Question

What is the freight management operations at Amour-Mezam travel agency in Bamenda Town?

1.3.2 Specific Research Questions

1. What are the freight management types at Amour-Mezam travel in Bamenda town?
2. What are the freight management constraints faced by Amour-Mezam travel agency in Bamenda town?
3. What measures can be used to address constraints in freight management at Amour-Mezam travel agency in Bamenda town?

1.4 Research Objectives

1.4.1Main Research Objective

To examine the contribution of freight management operations at Amour-Mezam travel agency in Bamenda town.

1.4.2 Specific Research Objectives

1. To identify the freight management types at Amour Mezam travel agency in Bamenda town
2. To determine the constraints faced by Amour-Mezam travel agency in its freight management operations town.
3. To analyze measures to address constraints in freight management operations at Amour-Mezam travel agency in Bamenda.