Current standards on transport and logistics
By land, water and air
Trains, coaches, lorries, ships and aeroplanes transport passengers and goods. Standards ensure high technical quality standards. And even more: management, risk analyses as well as the planning and construction of transhipment terminals are covered by standards.
- Credit: ASI prm
Aiming at customer satisfaction
First and foremost, standards reflect a consensus on technical and subject-specific issues. Agreement on dimensions and transport units brings nations closer together in the business world. Europe-wide procurement and calls for tenders foster standardisation. After all, transport is not just about technology but also is a service. Since the 1980s, standards have been developed in this field that create added value through management, risk analyses and learning processes. In this respect, customer satisfaction, service comparability and process orientation are key issues in standardisation.
Transport services (examples):
ÖNORM EN 13816: Public passenger transport
ÖNORM EN 14873 (two parts): Furniture removal activities — Storage of furniture and personal effects
ÖNORM EN 15696: Specification for self-storage services
ÖNORM EN 12798: Transport quality management system
- Credit: ASI prm
From A to B
Even though services become more and more important, technical solutions are still required. Moving loading units or containers from road to water, from rail or air to road is always a tricky issue in the transport chain. Standardised containers and safety systems make an important contribution to interoperability and efficiency in freight transport. Austria developed the first standard on the planning and construction of transhipment terminals.
Freight transport (examples):
ÖNORM V 5750: Cargo securement
ÖNORM B 4920 (six parts): Planning of terminals for transhipment of goods
ÖNORM EN 12195 (four parts): Load restraint assemblies on road vehicles
- Credit: ASI prm
Intelligence through high-tech
Technical innovations gain ground in the transport sector and in related standards. Intelligent systems monitor speeds, collect toll fees or call ambulances or the police. Standards regulate data flows, fare management and traveller information.
Telematics (examples):
ÖNORM EN 15876-1: Electronic fee collection
ÖNORM EN ISO 14819: Traffic and traveller information (TTI)
ÖNORM EN ISO 24014-1: Public transport - Interoperable fare management system
ÖNORM EN ISO 24978: Intelligent transport systems - ITS Safety and emergency messages using any available wireless media
ÖNORM EN ISO 15007-1: Road vehicles - Measurement of driver visual behaviour
- Credit: ASI prm
Travel round the world
From the underground to aeroplanes, standards accompany passengers and goods. Purely technical rules alone, however, are not enough to support this significant sector of the economy. Service quality and management become more and more important. Telematic innovation will raise the need for a higher number of harmonised transnational standards.
