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The utility of intermodal transportation service in logistics

intermodal

Everyone has unique shipping requirements, from food and beverage to retail and construction industries; the logistics managers need to understand and fulfill them. They must design a strategy that guarantees cost-effective rates and the best service. In this context, the concept of intermodal transportation gains attention. It uses rails to trucks in the freight system to deliver a shipment. Some people find this pretty complicated, while it refers to the simple practice of transporting goods in one container through different transportation methods, such as rail, truck, ferry, aircraft, etc. The logistics industry’s experts believe this is the future of shipment delivery from one location to another.

Also referred to as multimodal transport, it has revolutionized how industries work today. If you want to leverage this, MX Solutions is a reputable multimodal transport operator. You can contact them for assistance. The whole system uses digital resources and data to make the best use of transportation. It can improve your organization’s efficiency and productivity while helping you control expensive shipping costs, environmental damage, and traffic congestion.

  • Exploring examples of multimodal transportation

Freight is an essential part of trade and commerce as it takes care of the movement of goods from one location to another via sea, land, and air. It also moves cargo carrying raw materials, perishable food items, and others that may not go into rails or trucks. Still, one can use various transport means to ensure timely deliveries at a better rate. Popular intermodal transportation has changed companies’ ways of delivering goods and services. Studies suggest that this specific industry will attain 20% growth in the coming five years and be counted among the top three sectors in the world shortly. Let’s dig into how things work here.

  • Use of containers

Standardization of container sizes has helped transport cargo from one point to another. Some typical unit dimensions vary from 20, 40, 45, and 48 to 53 feet lengthwise. They can be eight inches high and 6 inches wide. They can carry about 36,000 kg of weight, including the container’s weight. The rail route is one of the easiest ways to transport cargo in these containers. This mode of transport can be reliable for transferring goods between distant ports or from one hub to another. The ship is another popular choice. It can navigate through the sea, ocean, and rivers. In the US, ships usually use coasts and the Mississippi River. If rail primarily carries 20 ft. long containers, ships can transport 20 and 40 ft containers.

On the other hand, trucks can carry different sizes of containers through roads, streets, and highways. They feature either first or last in this style of transportation.

The entire system has made tracking your cargo movement convenient with advanced technology. You can speed up your cargo delivery by combining different modes and routes. There is a belief that it is the most sustainable way of shipping. Since this process moves the whole container instead of sorting through its contents, the shipment can arrive faster. Also, intermodal transportation can follow a single contract or plan each step separately. So, talk to your freight service provider for clarity.

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