Explanation:
Intermodal transportation is the use of two or more modes, or carriers, to transport goods (freight) from shipper to consignee. Special standardized containers are used for intermodal transport of cargo on trucks, freight trains, and ships. These containers are large rectangular boxes, capable of being secured to special trailers. These durable, steel containers are built so they can be transferred between different modes of transportation easily. This eliminates the risks of directly handling shipments.
Intermodal-cycle of delivery.jpgIntermodal transportation isn’t new. The practice was first used in 18th century England. In the 1950s the steel intermodal container became the standard. It was based on design specifications developed for the US DoD.
A typical example of intermodal freight transportation is rail, truck, ship, and then truck. The truck transport used between the rail terminals and the ocean ports, is a specialized form of trucking often called drayage. This is usually provided by dedicated companies who provide only this type of service.
An example of how this type of transportation scenario would progress, would be with a truck bringing an empty container to a shipper to pick up a load. The container would be loaded with freight by the shipper and then taken by the truck to a railroad yard. It is then put on a train and moved to its destination. At the destination city it is removed from the train and delivered by truck to the consignee, where the contents of the containers are unloaded. The container is then empty and ready for another load.
