What is Intermodal Transportation?

Businesses aiming to increase the effectiveness of their supply chain may find intermodal transport an appealing mode of transportation.

Intermodal transportation involves moving standardized cargo units to their destination using various means of transportation. These cargo units can be containers, and swap bodies moved through different transport vehicles (trains, ships, trucks) to a destination. 

By utilizing cargo and transport effectively, intermodality could improve the economic performance of a transportation network. Lengthy distances can benefit from the line-haul economics of rail.  But local pick-up and delivery options can be flexible thanks to trucks’ efficiency. The entire voyage is considered complete rather than a series of legs. And each one is designated by an individual operation with its documentation and rates.

Understanding Intermodal Transportation

The intermodal transportation process begins with the arrival of an empty truck at the consignee location. The truck’s back container is loaded with the products by the shipper or transporter in charge. These items will only have additional handling once they reach their final destination. 

The truck then uses the local road system to a rail yard. A logistics firm loads the containers onto the rail here. The container may be transferred by train to a port for shipping or a railroad station in the destination city.

Intermodal shipments can be classified as domestic and international. For international shipments, 20- or 40-foot containers are used. The product stays in the same container as the cargo moves between ocean carriers, lorries, and trains. For domestic intermodal shipments, 53-foot containers are preferred. Despite using domestic intermodal” to describe these shipments, merchandise may come from abroad. The main distinction is that products are converted from 53-foot domestic containers into 20- or 40-foot international containers after arriving at a port. It also applies to a cross-dock or transload facility or distribution center. They then proceed to inland (or “domestic”) locations.

The products are now taken out of the container by the logistics company. These containers are now vacant and prepared for a fresh shipment. The logistics company may also handle the final mile of delivery to the customer.

The order in which the different modes of transportation are used must provide modal continuity. Intermodal transportation, which is how multimodal transportation is structured, is a series of other modalities. Trucking, rail, barges, and maritime transportation are the main modes that support intermodalism. For example, in the case of air transport, trucking is the preferred transport method for initial and last-mile deliveries. Furthermore, the load units used in air transportation are not easily interchangeable.

Intermodal transport is often confused with multimodal and combined transport. The term”multimodal transport” refers to a delivery service where the freight is delivered via two or more modes of transportation. Multimodal transportation also involves the use of many modes of transportation. These include moving a pallet from an airplane to a truck and combining a rail and road leg transfer. It also includes performing a transfer through both water and road.

When “intermodal transport” is used, this refers to a particular type of multimodal transportation where the transported goods are contained in standardized cargo units. So, the unique characteristic of intermodal transport is to prevent breaking cargo. All the items are stored inside the same unit from start to finish of the transport cycle.

ISO containers and ISO tanks can be loaded into container ships, freight trains, and intermodal trailers. These are the cargo containers of choice for intercontinental import/export by water. Swap bodies, semi-trailers, and non-ISO containers can all be utilized in intermodal transport. It’s handy when the unit doesn’t need to be transported on a container vessel.

Combined transport is a subset of intermodal transport. For transport to be considered “combined,” most of its length must be carried by rail, barge, or sea, minimizing the use of trucks as much as possible.

5 Benefits of Intermodal Transportation

The main goal of transportation is to carry cargo from an origin location to a destination point most effectively and efficiently. Transport is effective when it meets the client’s needs in terms of speed, safety, and flexibility. It also greatly benefits your business when it is efficient. This is achieved when it produces the desired result using the fewest resources possible (money, fuel, labor, and others).

When designed and executed correctly, intermodal transportation may accomplish both objectives while maintaining high levels of supply chain efficiency.

1. Lower Costs

By transporting freight in intermodal containers, businesses can cut their transportation costs. Firms can get significant fuel savings by using rail and trucks. Long-distance trucks can result in substantial fuel costs, but trains can reduce them. Businesses will lessen their carbon footprint. 

The capacity to ship in containers is another intermodal benefit that reduces costs.

Containers can be handled together. Doing this lowers the cost of transportation. How? It switches a shipment from a truck to a train, ship, or any other combination and only requires minimal work. Containers are simple to swap between and will simply fit into any mode, which improves the effectiveness of the carrier process.

2. Optimized Cargo Capacities

Truck and rail intermodal transportation provides dependable capacity.  Since there’s 

less competition, it makes it easier to procure freight for intermodal transport. It also reduces costs further but can provide flexibility. Intermodal transport is growing in popularity due to a shortage of drivers and increased shipping traffic. 

Companies can ship via intermodal at any time and at a competitive price. You can avoid paying excessive rates to ensure capacity or going out of your way to accommodate carriers. It’s an effective strategy to deal with the present issues facing the trucking sector, as carriers raise prices and slow service.

3. Additional Safety

The items are kept in the containers for the duration of the trip. Moreover, they don’t require excess handling when changing between modes of transportation. These containers reduce the possibility of damaging products and function as a mini-warehouse. As a result, no one can access the products while they are being transported. Using containers also lowers the likelihood of theft. And, unlike over-the-road transport, the container is constantly under surveillance, guaranteeing the highest level of product protection.

It’s also worth noting that train transport is ideal for hazardous and flammable cargo. They travel on a fixed track and are less susceptible to accidents.

4. Sustainability

Intermodal transportation utilizes a smart combination of rail and road. Trucking is limited to first and last-mile pickup and delivery. This represents one of the most efficient ways to move towards sustainable logistics regarding environmental, economic, and social sustainability. 

Businesses can reduce the environmental impact caused by a shipment by lowering their carbon footprint. Trucks can emit 19.8 pounds of carbon dioxide every 100-ton mile, compared to 5.4 pounds per 100-ton mile for trains.

5. Delivery Speed

Your business can shorten delivery times by utilizing intermodal transportation. Even over vast distances, you can choose between the fastest kinds of transport. The efficient transfer of goods from one means of transportation to another is made possible by using containers. Time spent loading and unloading is cut down, which speeds up delivery.

Minimize breaking containers, and maximize the use of trucks in a limited area. Use a central container terminal to deliver goods. This enables more frequent and shorter road journeys, which maximizes the usage of a truck fleet.

Companies have to evaluate customer needs to be familiar with any basic requirements to fully enjoy this transportation method’s benefits.

Collaborating with qualified independent operators who can offer custom logistical advice is crucial. This difficult challenge calls for specialized knowledge and the ability to grasp your customer’s needs accurately. But it also has the potential to produce significant earnings and cost savings that translate into a sustainable competitive advantage.

Better connections between ports and railway routes due to the improvement of transportation facilities make transport combinations more flexible. Progress in the standardization of administrative and judicial processes for transporting commodities is also making significant progress.

Intermodal transportation can lead to reduced expenses, quicker deliveries, secure cargo, and increased sustainability. Intermodal transport has evolved into the preferred mode of transportation for most logistics firms due to these significant advantages. With massive growth expected in eCommerce and global trade in the years to come, having intermodal transport is more important than ever. 

ZhenHub gives you access to an optimal distribution network of global warehousing partners. Select cost-efficient and trackable shipping services to suit specific products and customer demand. Get on board with intermodal transport by signing up at our website.