Intermodal Shipping
A freight transportation method that uses two or more modes of transport (typically truck and rail, or truck, rail, and ocean) to move cargo in standardized containers without handling the freight itself when changing modes. The container is loaded once, then transferred between trucks, trains, and ships. Intermodal is typically 10-20% cheaper than over-the-road trucking for distances over 750 miles, though transit times are 1-2 days longer.
Detailed Explanation
A freight transportation method that uses two or more modes of transport (typically truck and rail, or truck, rail, and ocean) to move cargo in standardized containers without handling the freight itself when changing modes. The container is loaded once, then transferred between trucks, trains, and ships. Intermodal is typically 10-20% cheaper than over-the-road trucking for distances over 750 miles, though transit times are 1-2 days longer.
Example
A shipper moves a container from Los Angeles to Chicago via intermodal: a drayage truck takes the container from the warehouse to the rail yard, a train carries it 1,800 miles to a Chicago rail terminal, and another drayage truck delivers it to the final destination.
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