What is meant by the term ‘intermodal freight’? 

The quick and straightforward way of defining the term “intermodal freight”, is that it refers to the transportation of goods from one location to another, using more than one mode – or method – of transport. 

The “intermodal” part of the term comes from the intermodal containers, or giant reusable boxes, that are used to pack and transport cargo as part of the typical intermodal freight solutions. 

So, to give a very simple example, if certain goods are moved in a container or trailer via railway for most of their journey, followed by being transported by road for the last few miles of the trip, this journey could be described as an intermodal one. 

Further examples of intermodal freight solutions include goods being transported by rail before switching to sea transportation for much of the rest of the trip, as well as goods that arrive by aircraft in a destination country being transferred to truck transportation for the remainder of the shipment’s journey to the recipient. 

Don’t get intermodal freight confused with multimodal transportation! 

You might have seen these two terms being used almost as if they were interchangeable, and it is true that they both refer to multiple modes of transport being used for freight forwarding. 

The defining difference between the two, then, is a contractual one; multimodal transportation entails a single contract covering the entire journey. Such an arrangement means that one carrier takes sole responsibility for the shipment, including for ensuring door-to-door delivery, even if other carriers are involved in getting the goods to their intended destination. 

By contrast, with intermodal freight, separate contracts exist for each individual leg of the journey. Shippers having separate contracts with different carriers means there is ultimately more than one entity responsible for the given cargo’s successful delivery. 

Why might you turn to intermodal freight solutions? 

The intermodal transportation of goods has been associated with a variety of benefits down the years. The opportunity to reduce costs is certainly one of them; the ability to “mix and match” different modes of shipping across one journey allows for the most cost-effective methods to be chosen for different legs of the trip. 

The right intermodal freight solutions can also help ensure the safety and security of the goods that are being transported. With the items themselves being enclosed in strong metal containers, the amount of direct handling of goods during transit is reduced to a minimum, thereby also driving down the risk of accidental damage or deliberate theft of the products. 

Exporters and importers also frequently turn to intermodal freight services as a way of maximising the reliability of their shipping processes, not to mention sustainability. You might not have been aware, for instance, that rail transportation offers greater fuel-efficiency than road, which allows for freight processes to be achieved that do not produce as much air pollution. 

Would you like to learn more about the intermodal freight solutions that could bring benefits such as these – and many others – to your shipments, depending on your particular requirements? If so, please do not hesitate to reach out to the professional and capable KTL UK team today. 

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