Intermodal freight transport

Intermodal transport is a subspecies of multimodal transport and describes a multi-unit transport chain in which one and the same transport or loading unit with at least two different modes of transport is carried. A subordinate form of intermodal transport is the combined transport.

Disambiguation

The term " intermodal " is often equated with the concepts of multi-modal and combined transport. This approach is particularly likely too short for freight transport and it has therefore been introduced by the European Conference of Transport Ministers (not generally accepted ) definition:

Characteristics

In transport, the term intermodality is originally from the area of freight transport and was first in the U.S. in the 1960s, use, were introduced as a standardized containers that could be transported by rail, truck and ship. With the containerisation were different modes of transport in the background and the transport chain "inter modes " between several modes or techniques, in the foreground. " Intermodal " means that for example a truck for part of its path will be transported by rail ( piggyback transport); the collection and delivery of goods is done while on the road. This allows various combinations of connections between maritime and inland ships, road vehicles, railways, pipelines and aircraft manufacture.

The reason for a combination results in many cases due to natural circumstances. A ship transport will normally be part of an intermodal chain, since the goods are usually produced or consumed, not in the harbor, but in the hinterland, thus making necessary a pre-and post with other modes of transportation. This raises the question as to which mode of transport to be used. In assessing this question, now the deep and serious connotation of the word " intermodal " is clear. It's about connecting with each other to a more complex knowledge individual perception content from different fields of life and experience.

There are many umbrella organizations who work for individual areas of transportation and strive for example, an improvement of road transport, as well as various organizations that take care of two or more transport for the link.

The latter is of great importance, as each mode of transport certain strengths and advantages, but also has weaknesses. The ship is carrying enormous quantities of goods under favorable energy consumption, but can also cause widespread environmental damage. The truck is very powerful because of its flexibility, but burdened by associated with their low loading capacity massiveness very much our infrastructure and air; he also contributes to increased road traffic accidents related. The railed with low energy consumption and space-saving large amounts, however, is due to their relation to the road less dense road network only appeared efficient in direct traffic, where trains are integrated into the production processes of great works. The aircraft, like the ship a natural partner in the intermodal chain, in long-distance transport in the not too voluminous charge preferred due to its speed, this advantage, however, lost in the near and mid- range due to extensive and time-consuming controls partially back and is increasingly hampered through a crowded airspace; be high energy consumption and environmental pollution associated affect in the evaluation also negative.

Intermodal transport has become a widely accepted means of reducing environmental loading and unloading of road and motorway network. An ideal transport industry would use any means of transport in accordance with its particular advantages and come this way in many cases to a combined solution of the transport problem. Such an approach would make good business sense and macroeconomic desirable because the harmful consequences of certain transport processes could be minimized.

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