what is intermodal

Intermodal refers to the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation, without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes. Intermodal shipping involves moving freight by two or more modes of transportation, such as loading cargo into intermodal containers that can move seamlessly between trucks, trains, and cargo ships. Intermodal freight consists of products and raw materials that are transported in a container by a variety of vehicles, such as container ships, semi-trailer trucks, and rail. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sets out the standards required for the containers used in intermodal freight. Intermodal transportation is different from multimodal transportation, which is conducted under a single contract, whereas intermodal transportation is conducted according to multiple contracts with different carriers. Intermodal transport often leads to lower costs, faster delivery, safer goods, and is more eco-friendly.