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- Intermodal Transport
Intermodal freight transport is at the heart of our operations
Intermodality makes it possible to combine multiple modes of transport (road, rail, sea) within the same route, while optimizing costs and reducing the carbon footprint. Trans-Inter Logistik has mastered the art of intermodal logistics thanks to a network of reliable partners and well-established processes.
Over 25 years of expertise in intermodal transportation
With more than 25 years of experience in intermodal transport, we have become a trusted partner for businesses that rely on efficient and reliable international shipping. Our long-standing expertise allows us to seamlessly integrate different transport modes, from trucks and rail to ocean and air freight, while ensuring your goods remain secure in standardized containers.
Our dedicated logistics team understands the complexities of customs regulations, port operations, and intermodal handling points. By anticipating potential challenges in container transfers, we help streamline your supply chain, minimize risks, and reduce unnecessary costs.
What is intermodal transportation?
Intermodal transportation is the movement of goods using multiple modes of transport like trucks, trains, and ships, but all within the same shipping container. This system avoids unloading and reloading cargo when switching between transport types, which makes it more efficient and reduces handling costs.
It’s often used in supply chain management to improve transit times and lower shipping expenses. For example, a truck might pick up a container, transfer it to a rail line for the long haul, and then another truck delivers it to the final destination.
Logistics providers coordinate this process, ensuring smooth transfers, tracking, and scheduling across different modes. Because it blends the strengths of each mode, intermodal shipping is one of the most effective forms of multimodal transportation.
Truck–Rail Intermodal Transportation
Truck–rail intermodal transportation is one of the most common methods for moving freight across long distances. In this system, goods are loaded into standardized intermodal containers and moved by truck to an intermodal terminal, where they are transferred onto railroads for the long-haul journey.
This method is highly efficient for both full truckload and less-than-truckload shipments, making it attractive for businesses looking to optimize supply chain costs.
Truck–Rail–Ship Intermodal Freight
Truck–rail–ship intermodal freight is the movement of goods in sealed maritime containers across container ships, railroads, and trucks to support international shipping. The containers remain intact throughout the journey, reducing handling at ports and intermodal terminals, while allowing cargo to flow efficiently from ocean freight vessels to inland rail networks and final truck delivery.
This system lowers costs, improves transit times, and strengthens supply chain efficiency by seamlessly linking global trade with domestic transportation.
Air–Truck Intermodal Transportation
Air–truck intermodal transport combines the speed of planes with the flexibility of trucks, making it ideal for time-sensitive shipments like pharmaceuticals or electronics. Goods are flown to a major airport hub and then transferred to trucks at a nearby terminal for final delivery.
While more expensive than other modes of transport, this approach guarantees faster transit times, secure handling, and reliable service for urgent freight that cannot be delayed.
Truck–Rail–Air Intermodal Freight
Truck–rail–air intermodal uses trucks, railroads, and planes to balance efficiency with urgency in freight transport. Cargo may move long distances by railroads before being flown across regions by planes, with trucks completing final delivery.
Though less common, this type of intermodal is valuable for specialized goods such as aerospace components and luxury fashion items.
Advantages of intermodal transport with Trans-Inter Logistik
Our intermodal transportation services deliver significant benefits by blending the efficiency of railroads, the flexibility of trucks, and the vast capacity of container ships. This integrated approach allows intermodal freight to move seamlessly across different networks, lowering transportation costs while improving reliability and transit times. By using secure intermodal containers that reduce handling risks and routes designed with environmental sustainability in mind, businesses benefit from logistics solutions that deliver both reliable performance and lower environmental impact.
Extensive global intermodal network
As a trusted intermodal provider, we partner with leading rail networks, motor carriers, and maritime shipping lines to connect major trade hubs around the world. Our expertise in international logistics and customs compliance ensures smooth cargo movement through advanced intermodal terminals on every continent. Whether managing large-volume freight or specialized shipments, each stage is handled with precision and care. By uniting rail, road, and sea in one seamless intermodal system, we give customers global reach, reliable service, and cost-efficient logistics.
Full flexibility in intermodal freight solutions
Our intermodal transport company delivers true flexibility with solutions designed around your unique supply chain needs, whether you require full-container loads or consolidated intermodal freight. By relying on standardized containers that transition seamlessly between trucks, rail networks, and ships, we reduce handling, streamline transfers, and maximize efficiency at every stage. This approach allows our team to accommodate a wide variety of cargo types while lowering costs and improving delivery timelines.
Cost efficiency with scalable solutions
Intermodal container systems lower costs by leveraging the strengths of each transport mode. Ships and railways handle long-haul volumes at lower per-unit costs, while trucks provide flexible pickup and last-mile delivery. This balance reduces reliance on expensive single-mode shipping and minimizes unnecessary handling. For businesses, the result is a scalable logistics solution that adapts to cargo size, stabilizes budgets, and maintains reliability without sacrificing performance.
Real-time tracking and supply chain visibility
Our intermodal transportation company provides real-time tracking to give your business full visibility across every stage of the journey. From container ships at sea to trains crossing borders and trucks handling last-mile delivery, our advanced shipping software keep cargo movements transparent. This visibility not only reduces uncertainty and delays but also allows companies to make proactive decisions, improve supply chain planning, and meet customer expectations with confidence.
From origin to destination, we manage your complete intermodal freight chain
Our integrated approach to intermodal logistics eliminates weak points in your supply chain. By coordinating container movements across rail networks, trucking partners, and maritime shipping lines, we ensure smooth transitions between modes and a continuous flow of goods. With access to advanced intermodal terminals and established global partnerships, we deliver reliable, cost-efficient freight solutions tailored to your business needs.
Trans-Inter Logistik – Intermodal transportation services engineered for supply chain efficiency
Every business deserves intermodal freight solutions tailored to its specific supply chain needs. Our approach combines long-standing partnerships with trusted rail networks, motor carriers, and maritime shipping lines, supported by over 25 years of expertise in intermodal logistics and freight forwarding.
Whether you require seamless rail–truck connections for inland distribution, cost-efficient rail–ship combinations for bulk cargo, or complex multimodal supply chain management across multiple terminals and ports, we go far beyond moving containers. We act as your strategic logistics partner, optimizing every stage of your intermodal transportation services to deliver greater efficiency, cost savings, and global competitiveness.
Our integrated transportation and logistics services
Road transport solutions
Our road transport services provide the flexibility and reliability businesses need for regional and cross-border shipments. With access to an extensive network of motor carriers and specialized vehicles, we handle everything from full truckload (FTL) to less-than-truckload (LTL) cargo. This ensures secure, on-time deliveries and efficient distribution, whether for short-haul urban routes or long-haul cross-border supply chains.
Air freight solutions
Our air freight expertise is designed for time-sensitive shipments where speed and reliability are critical. Partnering with leading airlines and using major international airports as hubs, we ensure fast transit times and smooth customs clearance. This service is ideal for high-value or urgent cargo, offering clients the advantage of global reach and optimized routing for efficient supply chain management.
Ocean freight solutions
Our ocean freight services provide cost-effective shipping for high-volume or non-urgent goods. Through partnerships with trusted shipping lines, we offer access to major global seaports and competitive containerized freight rates. With options ranging from full container load (FCL) to less-than-container load (LCL), our solutions maximize efficiency while maintaining cargo integrity during long-haul transit.
Why choose Trans-Inter Logistik as your intermodal logistics company?
Choosing the right intermodal transport company can make the difference between a supply chain that struggles and one that thrives. At Trans-Inter Logistik, we combine over 25 years of experience in the freight industry with a global network of trusted partners to deliver seamless freight solutions.
From rail and trucking to ocean shipping, we integrate multiple modes into one streamlined system that minimizes handling, reduces costs, and ensures reliability. Our commitment to efficiency, transparency, and customer service positions us as a logistics partner that businesses can rely on for both day-to-day shipments and complex, large-scale supply chain operations.
Our expertise transforms supply chain challenges into intermodal opportunities for efficiency, growth, and long-term success.
Learn more about intermodal freight transportation
What does intermodal mean?
Intermodal transportation refers to the movement of goods using multiple modes of transport such as trucks, trains, and ships, without handling the cargo itself when changing modes. For example, auto parts can be loaded into a standardized container, transported by truck to a rail terminal, lifted onto a train using large cranes, and then moved by rail for long-distance travel.
This method enhances safety by reducing cargo handling and minimizes damage or loss. Rail transportation is especially efficient for intermodal freight because it offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to move large volumes.
How does intermodal transportation work?
Intermodal transportation operates through a streamlined, multi-step process that moves goods efficiently across different transportation modes without unpacking the cargo itself. Here’s how it typically works:
- Warehousing: Goods are stored and prepared at a warehouse, often organized on pallets for easier handling.
- Containerization: Palletized goods are loaded into ISO containers, which are compatible across trucks, trains, and ships.
- Initial Transport: Containers are hauled by truck to an intermodal terminal (rail yard or port).
- Mode Transfer: Large cranes move containers onto trains or ships without unpacking the cargo.
- Main Transport Leg: Containers travel long distances by rail or sea, which are more efficient for bulk movement.
- Transloading (if needed): At the destination terminal, goods may be unpacked and repacked if switching to a different container or vehicle.
- Final Delivery: Goods are delivered by truck to their final destination, such as a retailer, warehouse, or customer.
Why is transloading sometimes used within intermodal logistics?
Transloading is sometimes used within intermodal logistics because, while the goal of intermodal transport is to move goods in a single, sealed container across multiple modes, practical constraints related to container units, volume, and capacity often make transloading more efficient or even necessary.
Here’s why:
- Different container units for international and domestic transport: International shipping commonly uses 20- or 40-foot ISO containers, but in North America, domestic rail and trucking often use 53-foot containers. Since these container units are not interchangeable, goods are transloaded—unpacked from international containers and repacked into domestic ones—to continue the journey efficiently.
- Maximizing intermodal volume efficiency: Transloading allows shippers to optimize container usage by consolidating multiple 40-foot containers into fewer 53-foot domestic containers. This improves overall intermodal volume efficiency, reducing the number of units that need to be moved, tracked, and handled—saving money and time.
- Better use of container capacity: Larger domestic containers offer greater capacity, especially in cubic volume. By transloading into a 53-foot container, shippers can reduce “empty space” and make better use of the available capacity compared to sticking with smaller international containers.
In summary, transloading adds flexibility within intermodal logistics by adapting cargo to the most efficient container size and mode at each stage of the journey.
What is the difference between intermodal and multimodal transport?
The difference between multimodal and intermodal transport lies in how cargo is handled across different transport modes:
- Intermodal transport uses standardized containers that stay sealed throughout the journey. Goods move between transport modes (truck, rail, ship, etc.) without being unpacked. This reduces handling points, lowers the risk of damage, and is common in international shipping for efficiency.
- Multimodal transport, on the other hand, may involve different carriers or packaging. The cargo can be repacked or transferred between modes, which means more handling points. This can add complexity but allows flexibility for routes or specialized goods.
What are intermodal containers?
Intermodal containers are large, standardized shipping boxes designed to be easily transferred across different modes of transport without unloading the cargo inside. Also known as ISO containers (named after the International Organization for Standardization), they come in common sizes like 20-foot, 40-foot, and 53-foot lengths, and are built to withstand long journeys and rough handling.
What is an example of intermodal transportation?
An example of intermodal transportation is the end-to-end delivery of electronics from Asia to a retailer in Canada:
- The electronics are packed into a 40-foot ISO container at a manufacturing facility in South Korea.
- The container is trucked to the Port of Busan and loaded onto a cargo ship.
- It is shipped across the Pacific Ocean to the Port of Vancouver, Canada.
- At the port, the sealed container is transferred by crane onto a freight train.
- The train carries the container across Canada to a rail terminal near Toronto.
- Finally, the container is moved by truck to a local distribution center or retailer for unloading.
This intermodal process enables efficient end-to-end delivery without unpacking the cargo during transit, reducing handling time, minimizing damage risk, and lowering overall shipping costs.
Import from Asia
FAQ: Intermodal supply chain solutions
How are intermodal shipments different from traditional freight?
Unlike traditional freight, which may use a single mode of transport, intermodal shipments combine two or more transport modes in one journey, using standardized containers. This allows for faster transfers, reduced handling, and better fuel efficiency.
What types of cargo are best suited for intermodal transport?
Intermodal is ideal for non-perishable goods, consumer electronics, auto parts, building materials, and other items that fit in standard containers. High-volume and long-distance shipments benefit most.
What are the benefits of intermodal supply chain solutions?
- Lower transportation costs
- Reduced fuel consumption and GHG emissions
- Improved cargo security
- Faster handling at terminals
- Access to broader geographic regions
How do companies track intermodal shipments?
Modern supply chains use GPS tracking, RFID tags, and integrated logistics platforms to monitor container location, condition, and estimated delivery times across all transport modes.