The role of transport are explained as follows:

(1) Helps in production : Transport carries raw materials and other requirements from the place of their origin or market to the place of their production to facilitate large scale production. It also carries labour from their residence to place of factory. It carries finished products from the place of production to the places of consumption or markets.

(2) Expanding markets : Producers and consumers are separated by geographical distance. Transport bridges this gap and facilitates distribution. It makes goods available wherever they are demanded. This helps to widen the market. With the development and growth of transport, the domestic and international markets for both agricultural and industrial products expand, bringing the prosperity to the country.

(3) Creates place utility : Transport is a public utility service which creates time and place utilities. Transport mainly creates place utility by carrying goods from the place of plenty to places where they are in more demand but not available, e.g. Apples which are produced on large quantity in Himachal Pradesh are brought over to Mumbai and other places through out the country by transport to get high prices.

(4) Stability of prices : Transport carries goods from the areas of plenty to the areas of scarcity. It helps to regulate and balance the supply of goods and services in relation to demand and thereby helps to stabilise the prices of goods. The shortage of goods at any place can be easily removed by efficient transport system.

(5) Creates employment : Transport creates job opportunities directly for transport owners, drivers, conductors, cleaners, mechanics, helpers, etc. It helps to move labour and goods from the place of abundance to the place of scarcity. This movement of goods and labour creates indirect employment. Transport an industry by itself has provided job opportunities to millions of people all over the world.

(6) Improves standard of living : By generating employment, transport leads to increase purchasing power with people. Further, it makes products of their choice from different regions available in local markets. This results in higher standard of living.

(7) Cost reduction : Efficient, cheap and quick means of transport facilitate the reduction in the cost of production and distribution of goods. On account of low cost of production, the goods can be sold at low prices which increase their demand and widen market. Increase in demand again leads to large scale production of goods and supply.

(8) Provides help during emergency : The life of the people is badly affected during natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, droughts, etc. and also during man-made disasters such as bomb blasts, riots, accidents, etc. In such circumstances, urgent and timely help in the form of food, water, medicines, clothes and other provisions, etc. can be provided quickly with the help of transport to save the lives of affected people. Rescue operations are possible only with the help of helicopters, fire brigades, railways, etc.

(9) Economic development : An efficient transportation system contributes to the rapid development of commerce and industry. Transport also helps to develop agriculture of a country. New industries are established and rapidly developed due to efficient network of transport. Further, a country can make progress in international trade and thereby earn foreign exchange only through efficient transport services.