解:$(1)$设运输$x$吨货物
汽车运输费用$y_{1} = 2×120x+5×\frac {120}{60}x + 400 = 250x + 400$
$ $火车运输费用$y_{2} = 1.8×120x+5×\frac {120}{100}x + 1600 = 222x + 1600$
$ $当$y_{1} = y_{2}$时,$250x + 400 = 222x + 1600,$解得$x=\frac {300}7$
$ $当运输货物小于$\frac {300}7$吨时,选汽车;
等于$\frac {300}7$吨时,一样;大于$\frac {300}7$吨时,选火车
$ (2)$设运输路程为$s {千米}$
汽车运输费用$y_{1} = 2×8s+5×\frac {s}{60}×8 + 400=\frac {50}3\ \mathrm {s} + 400$
$ $火车运输费用$y_{2} = 1.8×8s+5×\frac {s}{100}×8 + 1600 =\frac {74}5s + 1600$
$ $当$y_{1} = y_{2}$时,$\frac {50}3\ \mathrm {s} + 400 = \frac {74}5s + 1600,$解得$s=\frac {4500}7$
$ $当运输路程小于$\frac {4500}7$千米时,选汽车;
等于$\frac {4500}7$千米时,一样;大于$\frac {4500}7$千米时,选火车