Both multimodal transportation and intermodal transportation allow products to move seamlessly between trucks and trains, and vice versa, so that almost any cargo owner can access the benefits of railroads. But what are the differences?
Multimodal Transportation
Multimodal transportation refers to transporting goods using two or more modes of transport. However, when rail freight operators talk about “multimodal,” they often mean moving batches of cargo between trucks and trains in containers.
How Multimodal Transportation Works:
- Products are loaded into a multimodal container.
- The container is placed onto a truck chassis.
- The truck carries the container to a multimodal ramp, usually a short distance away.
- When the container reaches the multimodal ramp, it is lifted off the truck chassis and placed onto a railcar or well car for train transportation.
- The container is then transferred back onto a truck for final delivery.
Different Types of Cargo That Can Be Transported in Multimodal Containers:
Multimodal containers can transport various types of cargo, including:
- Agricultural products
- Construction and manufacturing materials
- Consumer goods
- Food and beverages
- Plastics
Benefits of Multimodal Transportation: The advantages of multimodal transportation include:
- Cost-effectiveness
- Fuel savings
- Available capacity
- Sustainability compared to long-haul road transport
- Consistent and reliable service
Intermodal Transportation:
Intermodal transportation involves unloading products from trucks onto railcars or loading goods from railcars onto trucks. On average, a railcar can carry as much freight as 3-4 trucks, so cargo is typically unloaded from (or loaded onto, depending on the case) multiple trucks onto each railcar.
How Intermodal Transportation Works: Three types of intermodal transfers exist: origin transfer, destination transfer, and door-to-door transfer.
- Origin Transfer:
- Products are loaded onto trucks at the source of the shipment (e.g., manufacturing facility, warehouse, etc.).
- Trucks transport the products to an intermodal facility.
- At the intermodal facility, products are unloaded from trucks and loaded onto one or more railcars.
- A train carries the products over a long distance to its final destination, served by rail.
- Destination Transfer:
- Products are loaded onto one or more railcars at the point of origin (e.g., manufacturing facility, warehouse, etc.).
- The train carries the products to an intermodal facility.
- Products are unloaded from the railcars and loaded onto trucks.
- Trucks transport the products a short distance to the final destination.
- Door-to-Door Transfer:
- This combines elements of both origin and destination transfers, with intermodal transfers occurring near both the source and the final destination.
Types of Products That Can Be Intermodally Transported: Intermodal transportation can accommodate a wide range of products, including:
- Agricultural products
- Beverages
- Construction materials
- Consumer goods
- Food
- Liquids
- Oversized items
- Small items
- Vehicles
- Others
Benefits of Intermodal Transportation: The benefits of intermodal transportation include:
- Cost reduction
- Lower carbon emissions compared to truck-only transportation
- Flexibility
- Expanded market access
- Higher product volumes transported with fewer expenses
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