Multimodal or intermodal transport, round trip or one way: let’s clarify.
In order to best evaluate the solutions for your next shipment, it is important to know the various options which meet your needs and which are the best solutions for the type of goods and destination.
So, to help you have a clear idea of what we are talking about, let’s talk about the types of positioning, and the definitions related to shipments that use more than one type of transport.
In fact, we talk about multimodal transport when the shipment involves the use of several transport modes, which however are not strictly integrated, or coordinated with a centralized control of the whole process. In fact, the shipping company authorizes the loading of the container in “merchant.”
Intermodal transport, on the other hand, exploits the advantages and characteristics of different transport routes, combining them and keeping them closely integrated, with the aim of ensuring greater efficiency, flexibility and security of transport. In this case, it is called “carrier” transportation.
It is therefore possible to combine different modes of transportation such as truck, ship, and train, and connect them using transit platforms such as ports and stations. In addition, standardized containers are used in this mode, which can be easily transferred from one transport mode to another, without the need to move goods from one container to another. This provides greater efficiency and speed in the movement of goods and allows for lower transportation costs.
Moreover, the shipment can be monitored in real time, so that timely action can be taken if problems arise.
To summarize, while in multimodal transport the different modes are used separately and coordinated only in part, in intermodal transport the modes are integrated with each other in a more in depth way and are controlled by a single entity, which manages the entire logistics chain. For example, when we are choosing a truck and rail transport – rail truck – we are going to choose an intermodal.
If, on the other hand, we prefer an all truck transport we will still have to make some choices:
– one way: this transport considers only one route, from the pick-up location to the port of loading, as the empty container is picked up from a nearby depot where it was previously emptied or to where it was transported in intermodal mode. The cost effectiveness of this solution involves an hourly limitation; loading can only take place in the afternoon;
– round trip: this transport considers two routes, the outward journey of the empty container from the port of loading to the loading location and the return of the full container to the same port; this method can also be used for import shipments, thus seeing the return of the empty container to the port of discharge.
As always, we are at your side to help you make the best decisions time after time to optimize your shipment, and help you organize it. Feel free to contact us for information or a quotation.
