Intermodal transshipment terminal
Intermodal terminals are responsible for the proper handling of intermodal transport units, i.e. containers, swap bodies, and truck trailers. These facilities have the right infrastructure and are properly organized to handle cargo efficiently, quickly, and smoothly. What is important, a transshipment terminal allows reloading of goods between various means of transport belonging to different branches, including from road to sea and from sea to rail.
Transshipment is not the only task of a transport terminal. It also enables the storage and use of any units with the help of equipment prepared for this purpose. An intermodal transshipment terminal is most often found in large seaports, often also in the most important logistic centers in a given country. It also happens that these terminals occur as completely separate facilities that do not belong to any port or major logistics center, but this situation is somewhat less common.
What is intermodal transport?
As you already know, an intermodal terminal mainly handles intermodal transport, so it is worth knowing the definition of this kind of freight transport. So, it is a way to transport cargo using not one, but several modes of transport. Interestingly, in intermodal transport, the type of unit responsible for the transport changes, for example, from rail to truck, but the cargo unit does not change. This makes reloading of goods unnecessary! Most often containers or swap bodies are used - the former can be loaded on a cargo ship, placed on a railroad wagon, or mounted as a semi-trailer on a truck, which greatly facilitates the entire transport. This method provides many advantages, which are discussed below.
Advantages of intermodal transport
- increases the maximum possible number of transports,
- Delivery of goods is much faster, and therefore always on time,
- the frequency of loading occasions increases,
- the lack of handling of the goods itself reduces the risk of damage to the goods,
- Intermodal transport allows more cargo to be carried at any one time,
- intermodal transport contributes to an increase in the quality of service,
The overall cost of the transport process can be reduced with the help of intermodal transport.
What distinguishes intermodal transport?
Several features distinguish intermodal transport - this is, first of all, the need to use at least two branches of transport modes. Interestingly, in this type of transport, there is only one contract, and only one contractor is responsible for the transport itself. The last point that must be realized is the need to unify the cargo.
Classification of intermodal transport
Intermodal terminals are found in different countries all over the world. They accept all or only specific loading units and are located in places with access to the sea, rail, or airport. Therefore, intermodal transport is divided into several groups, which are discussed below:
Intermodal transport with different scopes:
- domestic transport,
- International transport,
- Continental transport,
- global transport.
Different types of units used:
- containers,
- semi-trailers,
- trucks,
- swap bodies,
- special containers.
Division by the nature of the operator:
- direct transport - the operator who is also a carrier,
- Indirect transport - the operator is an auxiliary carrier.
Different use of transport means:
- carriage by rail-road-river,
- Road-rail-sea carriage,
- Rail-road-air carriage,
- road-rail transport,
- rail-road carriage,
- road-at-sea carriage.
The most frequently used transport units in intermodal transport
The most common transport unit at transshipment terminals, especially intermodal, is the container. This is a box, usually made of metal, whose dimensions correspond to top-down arrangements. This unit is used for the transport of general cargo such as cardboard boxes, crates, and sacks. Sometimes Europallets are also placed in it. Due to the standardized dimensions, transshipment operations can be performed much faster. At transshipment terminals, professional cranes are often responsible for container handling.
A swap body is another transport unit, which is next to containers a frequently chosen part of a truck for the transport of goods. Like containers, swap bodies also have to comply with all standards. What is important, they are units that can be connected and disconnected without any special equipment. They are most often used in road-rail intermodal transport. There are several types of swap bodies - these are coolers, curtain siders, steel tubs, and hook-in containers. Intermodal transshipment terminals located in large logistics centers most often use this transport unit.