{"id":20080,"date":"2023-10-02T14:22:59","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T14:22:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gruber-logistics.com\/multimodalita-intermodalita-e-trasporto-combinato\/"},"modified":"2024-06-05T07:49:22","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T07:49:22","slug":"multimodality-intermodality-and-combined-transport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gruber-logistics.com\/en\/multimodality-intermodality-and-combined-transport\/","title":{"rendered":"Multimodality, intermodality and combined transport"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” overlay_strength=”0.3″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\n

MULTIMODALITY, INTERMODALITY AND COMBINED TRANSPORT<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

To attempt to describe and outline the market and sub-markets related to the rather generic and broad terms such as “multimodality,” “intermodality,” “combined transport,” etc., and to identify who are effectively the main players in these markets, let’s begin by examining some official definitions from UN\/ECE as a source.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Multimodal transport” simply refers to the transportation of goods using two or more “modes” of transport.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Intermodal transport” involves the movement of goods using a single “loading unit” (or road vehicle) that utilizes two or more modes of transport without handling the goods themselves during modal transitions (without the so-called “break of bulk”). By extension, the term “intermodality” is used to describe a transportation system where two or more modes of transport are used to transport the same loading unit (or truck) in an integrated manner, without loading and unloading, throughout the door-to-door transport chain.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Combined transport” is a subset of intermodal transport, specifically when the majority of the journey is conducted by rail, sea, or inland waterways. The initial and final connections made by road must be as short as possible in this case.<\/span><\/p>\n

All these definitions, as seen, refer to the concept of “modes” of transport. A mode of transport is a differentiation based on the \u201cway\u201d of transport used (sea, road, rail, air, etc.). We have maritime mode, road mode or road transport, rail mode, air mode, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

In essence, multimodality and intermodality are very broad terms, and the former includes the latter, which should be used to clearly indicate that the goods within the loading unit are not handled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the use of the generic term “multimodal” has become widespread in place of the specific term “intermodal.” Finally, it should be added that the term “multimodal” and its variations seem to be predominantly used in political and academic contexts compared to purely operational ones, where adjectives like “combined” or “intermodal” are more commonly used.<\/span><\/p>\n

In reference to “loading units,” intermodality involves the use of so-called ITUs (Intermodal Transport Units). Specifically, for the maritime, road, and rail modes, the prevalent ITUs used for freight transport come in three types:<\/span><\/p>\n