Why Intermodal Transportation Is Quickly Gaining Ground

As the world’s demand for more goods continues to increase, with more shipments to and from everywhere imaginable, the transportation and logistics sector has to continually evolve to keep up.  That’s why we at Amstan have invested heavily in intermodal transportation services, and foresee its continued growth in years to come.

Simply put, intermodal transportation is any form of shipping which goes through multiple modes of transport – such as truck, rail, and ships – while the cargo remains in the same container throughout.  When implemented properly, intermodal systems can help further optimize your supply lines, particularly when they stretch overseas, while bringing further benefits as well.

Four Reasons Why Intermodal Transportation Is Growing In Popularity

1. Flexibility

With intermodal services, there is considerable new flexibility in how cargo is moved – even when it’s staying on the same continent.  Logistics providers can analyze a much wider variety of transportation options, picking and choosing the best routes for each piece of cargo.  Likewise, it allows more flexibility in types of optimization – would you prefer the cargo move as fast as possible, or save money at the expense of speed?

2. Sustainability

The shipping industries -as well as its customers- are well aware of the impact global shipments have on the planet.  One of the biggest advantages of intermodal methods is that they can often significantly reduce the use of fuel and other environmentally-harmful practices.  Of course, beyond the ecological benefits, this pays off for you as well.  Less fuel use generally means lower transportation costs.

3. Greater Access to Consolidated Shipments

This is an area where intermodal shipment via a third-party logistics provider (3PL) can pay off for companies who find themselves needing to ship smaller loads on short notice.  It’s much easier to make those small shipments part of larger consolidated loads, and often drastically reduce the costs of what would otherwise be very expensive short-notice service.

4. A Long History of Standardization

Intermodal transportation is actually much older than most people realize, with its roots in the 18th Century.  Being so old, the industry was standardized throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries so that, today, the same standard cargo containers and transferal methods are used around the globe no matter your cargo’s destination.

Improve Your Logistics with Amstan

Amstan Logistics offers robust shipping, logistics, and supply-line services to optimize your operations.  Contact us to learn more.