In the search for more efficient logistics solutions, intermodal transport has emerged as a key strategy for many companies who want to optimise their operations. Intermodal transport has a number of advantages over traditional road transport, ranging from reducing costs to enhancing business sustainability.

What is intermodal transport?

Intermodal transport involves moving goods in a single unit load (e.g. a container) using two or more modes of transport without handling the contents. The key to this is that the container remains intact in intermodal transport, unlike in multimodal transport, thereby minimising the risk of damage and loss.

This approach combines the flexibility of road transport with the efficiency of rail transport and, in some cases, sea transport, which allows companies to take advantage of the strengths of each mode of transport. Consequently, intermodal freight transport allows companies to move goods over large distances and reach far-off destinations more quickly, more economically and more sustainably than by using road transport alone.

Optimising delivery times using intermodal transport

One of the biggest challenges for any business that relies on logistics is the timeliness of deliveries. Modern supply chains require tight deadlines, and intermodal transport provides an effective solution in this regard:

Reducing road congestion

Companies can reduce the use of congested roads and avoid delays by incorporating rail transport. Trains do not have to negotiate regular city traffic jams, thereby making it possible to travel faster over longer distances.

Speed and efficiency of rail transport

Rail transport is particularly useful when it comes to moving large volumes of goods, with continuous, scheduled routes that optimise transit times. Rail routes are less exposed to disruptive factors such as adverse weather conditions and accidents, resulting in more reliable delivery times.

Flexibility

One of the advantages of intermodal transport is its ability to combine the speed of rail or sea with the flexibility of lorries over the last mile. This allows companies to deliver their products directly to their final destination in shorter times.

Lower logistics costs

Intermodal transport not only optimises delivery times, but also offers significant advantages in terms of cost reductions:

Fuel savings

Rail transport is significantly more efficient in terms of fuel consumption per ton/kilometre compared to road transport. This advantage is even greater over longer routes, where trains are much more economical than a fleet of lorries.

Lower maintenance costs

Lorries are subject to constant wear and tear over long routes, which leads to additional maintenance and part replacement costs. Companies can reduce these costs by reducing the use of lorries and using rail for most of the journey.

Economies of scale

Rail transport can move large volumes of freight in a single journey, thereby achieving economies of scale that result in lower per-unit costs. This advantage can also be exploited by sea transport on intercontinental routes, particularly for bulky, heavy cargoes.

Lower labour costs

There is less need for handling cargo with intermodal transport. This means that cargo is transferred between modes without having to be handled directly, thereby lowering the labour costs associated with this process.

Optimising tariffs

As intermodal transport is a combination of different modes, it is possible to optimise tariffs so as to reduce overall costs.

Improving sustainability in intermodal transport

Intermodal freight transport plays an essential role in the move towards more environmentally friendly operations:

Lower CO₂ emissions

Rail transport produces significantly lower CO₂ emissions compared to road transport, particularly on long routes. Companies can reduce their carbon footprint considerably by using trains for the lion’s share of transport routes and only using lorries for short trips.

Lower energy consumption

Rail and maritime transport are considerably more energy efficient. For example, a train can move a ton of freight up to 500 kilometres using the same amount of energy as a lorry would need to cover a much shorter distance.

Reducing congestion and pollution on the roads

Intermodal transport helps to reduce the number of vehicles on the road by not moving large, heavy loads by road, thereby reducing congestion and pollution levels in cities and on main roads.

Lower dependence on fossil fuels

Electric trains and ships that use liquefied natural gas (LNG) are sustainable alternatives that have already been put into service in some regions, thereby reducing dependence on oil and its derivatives.

Challenges of intermodal transport and solutions

While intermodal transport has many benefits, it also faces certain challenges, such as the need for coordination between the different actors in the supply chain and adequate infrastructure at the connection points between transport modes.. However, solutions such as implementing digitalised intermodal terminals in Spain are helping to overcome these obstacles.

The implementation of real-time tracking systems, the digitisation of transport documents and the automation of processes are tools that are making the transition to more efficient intermodal transport easier.