Intermodal Freight Transport

A freight village is a complex set of facilities where all the activities relating to transport, logistics and distribution of goods are carried out on a commercial basis by various operators, who can either be the owners or the tenants of the spaces (warehouses, storage areas, offices, car parks etc.). lt must be equipped with public facilities and, if possible, include public services for the staff and users. Other names for a freight village are: logistics park/centre, transport centre or logistics hub. A freight village enables change from one given transport mode to another (modal shift) through a set of technologies that facilitate the transfer. It is served by several transport modes (road, rail, deep sea, inland waterway, air) to encourage intermodal transport for the handling of goods. The most common examples of modal shifts are: train (rail) to lorry (road); barge (inland waterway) to train or lorry; airplane (air) to lorry. A freight village requires different activities such as warehousing, economic activities, support activities, unified management. The warehouse is the infrastructure where the transport operator mostly performs his business.

This activity may include the division of the goods into smaller quantities for a more functional distribution. Logistics hubs need active distribution centres and several industrial activities in the neighbourhood that can exploit the modal shift facilities within the village. Support activities include support services like lorry rest areas, office space, restaurants, banking, shops and hotels. Unified Management requires that the village is often under the management of a single entity. A freight village is the right solution to satisfy the increasing requirements of a complex business based on transport. In order to work well it is imperative that the village is run by a single body, either public or private.

 

 

Real Estate Expertize and Management:

Real Estate Commissioner

The California Department of Real Estate is headed by the Real Estate Commissioner, who is appointed by the governor. The Commissioner is responsible for determining administrative policies, enforcing the California real estate law, and regulating certain real estate syndicates, real property securities transactions, subdivisions, and licensing procedures. The Commissioner has issued a regulation, called the Code of Ethics and professional Conduct, which is binding upon all licensees. The Code of Ethics does not permit “pocket listings.” (A pocket listing occurs when a licensee takes a listing on a property, but keeps it a secret, so that no other licensee can earn any part of the commission. This 16 practice harms the seller because it restricts the number of licensees who are looking for buyers for the property.) The enforcement of real estate law in California is very much divided. The Real Estate Commissioner has the sole authority to issue, restrict, suspend, and revoke all licenses. While the Commissioner can also fine a licensee, the Commissioner cannot award monetary damages to an injured party. Only the courts can do this. The Commissioner cannot prosecute a licensee for any violation of the law. The district attorney would prosecute the violator. Notice that the court system can award monetary damages and put someone in jail, but only the Commissioner can take action against a person’s license. The Real Estate Commissioner also heads the Real Estate Advisory Commission, which is a group of ten advisors, appointed by the Commissioner to assist him or her. Six of the members must be licensed brokers, and the group must be geographically representative, with no more than three members from any one county. When a formal complaint is filed against a licensee, the Real Estate Commissioner investigates. A hearing may be held under the Administrative Procedures Act (which is found in the Government Code), after an accusation has been served upon the licensee. Action, in general, must be filed within three years of the act (longer limits are permitted in some cases for fraud, misrepresentation or false promise)