Cargo ships may one day ply the North Sea Route, which runs from the Barents Sea, above, to the Bering Strait, but aside from a few Russian operations, most shipping lines are not yet interested in the route.

Some 70% of last mile deliveries are in high density urban areas where congestion is a way of life. The variety of goods being shifted creates the need for multiple modes of transport, which adds to the complexity.

Air Charter operators are facing pressure in an increasingly competitive aviation industry, but the flexibility and customizability of air charter operations will continue to fill a gap left by scheduled flights.

: Indian Railways could run on demand freight and passenger trains once it builds several dedicated rail freight corridors, the chairman of the board of directors says.