  The scattering approach to quantum transport through a disordered
quasi-one-dimensional conductor in the insulating regime is discussed in terms
of its transfer matrix $\bbox{T}$. A model of $N$ one-dimensional wires which
are coupled by random hopping matrix elements is compared with the transfer
matrix model of Mello and Tomsovic. We derive and discuss the complete
Fokker-Planck equation which describes the evolution of the probability
distribution of $\bbox{TT}^{\dagger}$ with system length in the insulating
regime. It is demonstrated that the eigenvalues of $\ln\bbox{TT}^{\dagger}$
have a multivariate Gaussian limiting probability distribution. The parameters
of the distribution are expressed in terms of averages over the stationary
distribution of the eigenvectors of $\bbox{TT}^{\dagger}$. We compare the
general form of the limiting distribution with results of random matrix theory
and the Dorokhov-Mello-Pereyra-Kumar equation.
