TRL3707
Assignment 2
Semester 2 2025
Due September 2025
, TRL3707
Assignment 2
Semester 2 2025
Due September 2025
Logistics Activities
QUESTION 1.1 — Participants that may influence transport at PepsiCo
Q: Which participants influence transport, and how do they affect transport at
PepsiCo?
Answer:
Transportation in supply chain management is not a singular function but a coordinated
activity shaped by multiple stakeholders, each exerting distinct influences on efficiency,
cost, and reliability. Six critical participants can be identified: shippers, carriers,
intermediaries, regulators, receivers, and technology providers.
Shippers initiate the flow of goods by determining shipment size, packaging, routing,
and carrier choice. Their decisions set the tone for both cost and service outcomes. At
PepsiCo, this role is amplified: the company strategically configures its bottling plants
and regional distribution centres to minimize transit times while simultaneously lowering
costs. By combining warehousing with third-party partners, PepsiCo exerts direct
influence over consolidation opportunities and overall logistics efficiency.
Carriers provide the physical movement of goods, and their reliability and flexibility
determine service quality. In the SADC context, carriers’ ability to provide refrigerated
fleets is essential, given the perishability of beverages. For PepsiCo, carriers not only
safeguard product integrity through refrigerated transport but also mitigate
Assignment 2
Semester 2 2025
Due September 2025
, TRL3707
Assignment 2
Semester 2 2025
Due September 2025
Logistics Activities
QUESTION 1.1 — Participants that may influence transport at PepsiCo
Q: Which participants influence transport, and how do they affect transport at
PepsiCo?
Answer:
Transportation in supply chain management is not a singular function but a coordinated
activity shaped by multiple stakeholders, each exerting distinct influences on efficiency,
cost, and reliability. Six critical participants can be identified: shippers, carriers,
intermediaries, regulators, receivers, and technology providers.
Shippers initiate the flow of goods by determining shipment size, packaging, routing,
and carrier choice. Their decisions set the tone for both cost and service outcomes. At
PepsiCo, this role is amplified: the company strategically configures its bottling plants
and regional distribution centres to minimize transit times while simultaneously lowering
costs. By combining warehousing with third-party partners, PepsiCo exerts direct
influence over consolidation opportunities and overall logistics efficiency.
Carriers provide the physical movement of goods, and their reliability and flexibility
determine service quality. In the SADC context, carriers’ ability to provide refrigerated
fleets is essential, given the perishability of beverages. For PepsiCo, carriers not only
safeguard product integrity through refrigerated transport but also mitigate
