Intermodal Transportation 

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Movers of cargo containers between one transportation mode and another.
Schneider Intermodal
Enjoy reliable, door-to-door, truck-like service on our rails.
schneider.com/intermodal
Intermodal Transportation
eBuyFreight Offers Intermodal Transportation Services at 25% Off!
www.eBuyFreight.com
Trasnportation Logistics
Track & Modify Routes in Real-Time A Unique Solution By UPS Logistics
www.UPSLogisticsTech.com/Software
Intermodal Drayage 24/7
Great Service And Reasonable Rates Serving PA, NY and NJ Call Now
fastfrt.com/
transportation intermodal
Complete Transportation Consulting For All Public and Private Sectors
www.TranSystems.com
Executive Transportation
Fairfield County Corporate Limo Svc Always On Time! 24 hr Live Dispatch
www.executivelimoct.com
Transportation Logistics
Full service logistics experts. Warehouse, pick, pack and ship.
www.fedlogistics.com
Logistics Management
Earn accredited online graduate certificate from Penn State.
www.worldcampus.psu.edu
Logistics
Search 45,000 Jobs that Pay Over $100,000. Start Searching Now.
www.TheLadders.com/Logistics
Air-Freight & Trucking
Expedited Trucking & Air Freight When Time Really Matters.
www.cmstransport.com
Trucking Transportation
Pipe Load and Heavy Haul Trucking Logistics Management, Hot Shot, PTL
www.ufandl.com
Intermodal Transportation
Search Thousands of Catalogs for Intermodal Transportation
www.globalspec.com
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A-Z Intermodal Transportation Provider Directory
0-9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Atlantic Container Line (ACL)
Container carrier featuring trans-Atlantic shipping; offers a combination of roll-on/roll-off (RORO)/container vessels.
www.aclcargo.com
American Pacific Trucking
Offer a land transportation interface between rail and sea movements while providing services that include international and domestic Intermodal trucking, warehousing and distribution.
www.americanpacific.com
APL
Provides worldwide container transportation and logistics services through a network combining intermodal operations with information technology.
www.apl.com
Agua Gulf
New Jersey based bonded warehouse, packaging, storage and trucking company. Serving the entire eastern US and select international destinations. Provides intermodal transportation to Puerto Rico.
www.aquagulf.com
Associated Transport Line
Provider of intermodal transportation worldwide, specializing in servicing South American ports.
www.atlexpress.com
B
Deutsche Bahn
Online information, travel agency and booking center for intermodal transportation in Germany and within Europe, including rail, road and airlines.
www.bahn.de
Beth Intermodal
Intermodal marketing company that offers facilities that can be used for rail-truck trainloads, warehousing, storage and distribution. All locations are rail-served and are near major metropolitan areas in the Northeast.
bethintermodal.com
Bolivian Intermodal Container Lines
Company specializing in the transportation by sea of loose cargoes (LCL) in consolidated containers and full containers (FLC) with a direct service from the Port of Hamburg to Bolivia.
www.biclines.com
Boasso America
Services range from tank cleaning, repair, and refurbishment to trucking and equipment management.
www.boassoamerica.com
Box Trotters-Moving and Storage Center
Based in South Carolina, engaged in steel fabrication manufacturing, real estate development, multimodal containerized transportation, transportation related R&D, and containerized storage systems.
www.boxtrotters.com
C
Consolidated Container Systems
Offers a total container solution. They specialize in Sales, Leasing, and an array of Services.
www.ccs-ltd.com
CNC Transports
European hub-and-spoke services between a rail hub and intermodal transport terminals offering total door-to-door transit time in less than 24 hours for container and swap body trains including train formation and marshalling time.
www.cnc-transports.com
Conrail Intermodal
Large, full service company offering a wide variety of shipping solutions for customers.
www.conrail.com
CSX Intermodal
Has provided shippers with a variety of transportation services using a nationwide intermodal network. Every week, CSXI runs over 300 dedicated trains between 33 terminals.
www.csxi.com
E
Eastern America
Offers long haul services, international services and a mail consolidation service.
www.eamerica.com
Excargo Services
Provides intermodal trucking and warehouse services for domestic and international businesses.
excargo.com
G
GST
Provider of less-than-truckload, truckload and intermodal transportation, logistics management and consulting services.
www.gst-corp.com
H
Hanjin Shipping
Hanjin Shipping offers services to Asia, Australia, and Europe.
www.hanjin.com
I
Intermodal Equipment Exchange
The Intermodal Exchange is the auction site for ISO marine and domestic containers.
www.intermodalex.com
J
JMV Transportation Services
Provider of intermodal transportation and consulting services.
www.jmvtrans.com
K
K Line
Richmond, Virginia based carrier offering container, warehousing, reefer and ro/ro services.
www.kline.com
L
Load Match
Site provides information on intermodal loads, equipment and employment for companies in North America.
www.loadmatch.com
Log Link
Find transportation and logistics businesses and websites, as well as airlines, airports, trucking companies, ocean lines, rail transport, customs brokers, seaports, freight forwarders, logistics providers and more.
www.loglink.com
M
Mark VII
Company provides services in transportation, logistics and warehousing.
www.markvii.com
McCormick Jahncke Group
Offers international transportation industry clients solutions to their operational, financial and business opportunities through strategic assessment.
mccormick-jahncke.com
MD Hydraulics
Refurbishers of hydraulic cylinders and component parts.
www.mdhydraulics.com
M.O.T. Intermodal Shipping
Services offered are designed individually to the customer's needs and include all aspects of international shipping and forwarding.
www.motintermodal.com
Midwest Systems
Offers services such as, intermodal transportation, steamship container depot, trailer repair and middle states.
www.mwsystems.com
O
OmniTRAX
Large, privately owned operators of short line railroads in the United States.
www.omnitrax.com
P
Parsec
Provider of contracted intermodal services to the rail industry.
www.parsecinc.com
Pacific Coast Container
Full service container freight station located in Oakland, CA.
pcclogistics.com
Pratt Industries
Manufacturer and marketer of advanced intermodal equipment which includes a trailer division, container chassis division, load securement devices, custom fabricating and precision machining division.
www.prattinc.com
R
Rail Delivery Services
Rail Delivery Services is an intermodal trucking company serving the Los Angeles area and California.
www.raildelivery.com
Rhenania Intermodal Transport
Specializes in international rail, storage, container and heavy load shipping solutions.
www.rhenania.com
Rockwell Transporation
A full service transportation company providing a complete range of services including truckload, LTL and intermodal.
www.rockwelltrans.com
Red River International
Intermodal transportation products and services include: trucking, rail, warehousing and load grip anti-skid pads.
www.rrii.com
S
Serra International
International freight forwarder and customs broker providing logistics and transportation services.
www.serraintl.com
T
Transus Intermodal
Trucking and waterborne intermodal transportation company.
www.transus.com
Triple Crown Services
Creators of trailers that can be used for trucking or rail shipping.
www.triplecrownsvc.com
Triton Transport Services
Has 8 terminals and 325 trucks for intermodal shipping needs.
www.tritontransport.com
Truck Rail Transport
Carrier for both the trucking and rail industry serving the southeastern United States.
www.trti.com
Tri Modal
Freight brokerage providing complete air and ocean services.
www.twinmodal.com
U
Ultra Logistics
Does truck, air, intermodal and waterborne transportation.
www.ultralogistics.com
W
WH Davis
Provides all types of freight containers, swap bodies, rail wagons, industrial trailers, road trailers and demountable bodies.
www.whdavis.co.uk
  • C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc.
  • Hub Group, Inc.
  • Landstar Systems Inc.
  • Xtra Corporation
Schneider Intermodal
Enjoy reliable, door-to-door, truck-like service on our rails.
schneider.com/intermodal
Intermodal Transportation
eBuyFreight Offers Intermodal Transportation Services at 25% Off!
www.eBuyFreight.com
Trasnportation Logistics
Track & Modify Routes in Real-Time A Unique Solution By UPS Logistics
www.UPSLogisticsTech.com/Software

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Guide to Intermodal Transportation Basics

Intermodal shipping is a very efficient way to transport goods

By Mark McGee


Intermodal transport works on a very simple principle: move cargo from one place to another while handling it as little as possible. This shipping method typically requires specialized equipment that can move shipping containers without disrupting their contents, which is why most shippers use intermodal transport companies for their shipping.

Intermodal transportation services operate in nearly every shipping capacity. Intermodal trucking companies carry goods that are pre-packed either on pallets or in special shipping containers to other intermodal sites. From the trucks, the goods are loaded onto a train or boat for further transport. If the item wasn’t already in an enclosed shipping container, it will typically be put in one at this step. After it has gone through this leg of its journey, it will be loaded back onto a truck and taken to its final destination. Think about these intermodal transportation basics:

1. Intermodal trucking companies are usually the first and last step in any intermodal shipping operation.

2. Trains perform most of the domestic or near domestic intermodal transport.

3. Waterborne companies make up the largest part of international intermodal shipping.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Use an intermodal trucking company for your basic shipping needs

While the majority of intermodal transportation is done through boats and trains, the early part is almost always trucks. You need a good overroad company to transport your goods from their point of origin to the next step in transports. At the other end of the transport chain, you need an overroad company to pick up your cargo and take it to its final destination.

I recommend: RSI Logistics has many overland shipping capabilities. They work throughout much of the continental U.S. using both trucks and trains. Bridge Terminal Transport has a wide shipping area and specializes in ship to land transport.

Find a railway intermodal transportation service

One of the most efficient means of transporting cargo from one place to another is using trains. Trains have a low cost to operate, and they transfer that through low-cost shipping. Much of the domestic shipping in the U.S. and Europe is done using trains.

I recommend: JB Hunt is a well-known and respected logistics company. They ship all over the continental U.S., Canada, Alaska and Mexico. They work closely with both truck and waterborne intermodal companies. CH Robinson has both a domestic and an international presence. They have a wide range of domestic shipping options but can also arrange rail shipping in Europe, if needed.

Locate waterborne intermodal shipping companies

When shipping internationally, waterborne transport is a safe and reliable method of moving cargo. Cargo ships rent out space to hundreds of different companies with every voyage. This means that the cost of moving the cargo is split between many different people, and the overall cost is very low.

I recommend: Freight Dynamics is a well-known logistics company that operates in nearly all areas of shipping, including waterborne. Maersk maintains one of the largest shipping systems in the world: water, air, land and rail. They have a wide selection of waterborne transport systems available.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • •  The world of intermodal services is a web of companies, all working together to move cargo from one place to another. When starting out with intermodal shipping, find out if the companies you already deal with have ties to companies specializing in other forms of transportation. With a small amount of effort, you may be able to use companies and firms that you already feel comfortable with to take you cargo to many new places
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Guide author

Guide to Intermodal Transportation

Shipping people or products using multiple modes of transportation

By Kelly L. Trainor, CEO, Paperweight Productions


Intermodal transportation involves the use of 2 or more carriers, or “modes” that link logistics programs in order to complete delivery. This can involve transport by land, sea or air in a number of carrier combinations. The marriage of rail and intermodal trucking companies is a common example of intermodal shipping. A shipper loads product into a cargo container attached to a truck by a special chassis. The truck takes the product to a rail yard where a crane separates the box from the chassis and transfers it to a train. When the train reaches its destination, a crane operator offloads the container to a truck chassis once more for final delivery.

Intermodal transportation services provide businesses with a simple solution for getting cargo from Point A to Point B. For a single rate, a shipper is able to schedule a move by origin and destination alone. The shipper needn’t be concerned over logistical details, such as how to get a product moved partially by train, and partially by truck. Intermodal brokers make all the arrangements.

To take advantage of intermodal services, consider the following:

1. Consider the size and weight of your product. Each mode has its own requirements and restrictions.

2. Review the shipping time frame. Some carrier combinations are speedier than others.

3. Calculate the cost effectiveness of assorted intermodal carrier combinations.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Determine the intermodal transport container best suited to your product

Containers come in a variety of sizes and shapes. In addition to standard trailer boxes, vented, refrigerated ('Reefer'), open-sided containers or containers with bulk liquid tanks are also available.

I recommend: Research container capacities and assorted styles to find one with maximum efficiency for your product.

Find intermodal brokers to address your shipping needs

Once you've established a working relationship and provided the broker with product size and weight, simply give the broker a delivery timeframe, and he takes it from there.

I recommend: Alliance Shippers, Inc., is one of the largest intermodal exchange companies in the world. They’re ideal for businesses that cater to multinational customers. Handy Freight Brokers is also an excellent find, offering discount intermodal shipping with the motto, “Any load, any size, anywhere…for less!”

Track your product shipments using EDI technology

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is state of the art design for tracking all aspects of intermodal exchange. Follow your product from the time it leaves your dock until it arrives in your customer's hands.

I recommend: Request a free EDI price quote from Truecommerce.com, or visit Infocon Systems for a free demonstration of their subscription-based EDI system.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • •  Compare intermodal pricing against traditional trucking alternatives. For some shippers, adherence to intermodal transport schedules is not a problem. For JIT freight, the more direct route of sending shipments by truck offers enhanced product security (shipment never sits unattended in an open rail yard) without transloading delays.
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Guide to Intermodal Transportation Key Terms

A good grounding in intermodal transportation key terms will go a long way

By Mark McGee


The world of intermodal transport is filled with specialized words. In the past, shipping cargo involved several separate industries, all dependent on the method used for shipping. When modalism (the idea that shipping was a single industry and the different modes were just facets) came on the scene, there was an industry wide attempt to bring their various terms together into a single intermodal shipping vocabulary.

Understanding some of the basic intermodal services terms will help you move into this fast-paced industry with more confidence and knowledge. These terms will also assist you in making informed decisions about your products and the methods used to move them. Consider the following when learning about intermodal transportation services terminology:

1. There are several different abbreviations and terms to describe the amount and type of goods being shipped.

2. Cargo containers have specialized terms used to describe their design and use.

3. Intermodal transport vehicles have their own specialized terminology.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Learn the terms for transporting via intermodal carrier

The two most common abbreviations in general shipping are LCL and CL. These mean Less than a Container Load and Container Load, respectively. These general terms describe how much space cargo takes up in the one basic unit of intermodal transport, the shipping container. LTL (Less than a Truck Load) and TL (Truck Load) are similarly used and generally describe how much cargo is on a truck.

I recommend: The shipping section of Export911 has a wealth of information, including a breakdown of more shipping abbreviations used in intermodal trucking and related industries. This handy calculator from SeaRates can help you figure out the most efficient way to pack your cargo for shipping.

Find out about containers used for multiple modes of transportation

The shipping container is probably the most important part of intermodal shipping. The basic reference container is 20 feet long, 8.6 feet tall and 8 feet wide. This is called a 20-foot equivalent unit (or TEU) and is the basis for logistical planning. Contrary to the reference model, the most common shipping container currently is 40 feet long and is 2 TEU in size. When a shipping container is stacked on top of another container for transport or storage, it's called double stacking (or triple stacking, and so on).

I recommend: The Container Shipping Information Service has a wealth of information about shipping container facts and figures. Familiarize yourself with various types of intermodal containers by viewing detailed photos on the Intermodal Container Webpage.

Discover the terms used by intermodal shipping companies

The simplest terms used in intermodal transport refer to the methods used to ship the cargo itself: overland, overrail and waterborne. These terms are the most common and describe trucks, trains and boats. Intermodal shipping containers are shipped by truck using box trailers or flatbeds. When the actual container doubles as the storage area on the truck it is called piggybacking.

I recommend: Both the Maritime Administration and the Intermodal Association of North America maintain very nice glossaries of intermodal transportation key terms.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • •  The key to learning the definitions of the intermodal transportation service is remembering that the industry was, at one point, several distinct industries. As time goes on, they attempt to bring in more common terminology, but there are still some rather odd terms that only apply to a certain area in a certain way.
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Guide to Intermodal Transportation Pricing and Costs

Purchase cost effective intermodal transportation services and supplies

By Sherry Grant


Intermodal transportation pricing and costs examines the expense of using more than one mode of transportation to move goods or materials from the manufacturer to delivery without handling the product. Intermodal transportation services involve the use of ships, trains, trucks and airplanes. These multiple modes of transportation are employed based on product, necessity and cost effectiveness of the intermodal transportation service.

A key expenditure in intermodal transport is the price of containers. Containers are the large, metal boxes into which goods are placed for shipping. Containers are cost effective for shippers due to their size (their large size enables more product to be shipped at one time), speed of the container ships and protection as well as the security of goods. If the shipper chooses to enlist a broker's services, transportation costs may include the expense of an intermodal broker. Consider the following when pricing the costs of intermodal shipping and transportation.

1. Research the cost and quality of containers used in intermodal services to ensure your goods are well protected.

2. Compare the price of rail, trucking and waterborne shipping companies.

3. Look into the expense of an intermodal broker as well as the broker's reputation for service.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Purchase the correct intermodal services container for your goods and products

Containers used in intermodal transportation are steel boxes that come in various shapes and sizes to ensure goods or materials are delivered securely and safely. Containers come in standard 20 to 40 foot containers and can hold around 30 tons of cargo. The average cost of a new container is $1,000 to $4,000 dollars depending on size and features. Shipping containers can be leased for around $75 to $150 dollars a month for 18 to 24 months.

I recommend: ICS offers the purchasing or leasing of intermodal containers. ICS also allows inspection and modification of their used and new containers. Rate quotes are available. Buyer Zone gives tips on saving money by leasing a shipping container as well as a link to connect purchasers to suppliers for price quotes.

Compare and contrast intermodal transportation services for cost effective and trusted operations

Intermodal trucking is used for transporting goods short distances. Trucking services are usually rendered at the beginning and end of the transport. Rail services are very economical and are utilized for average distances. Maritime transport is employed for the longest distances in intermodal shipping, and air transport is used when appropriate. The most commonly used modes are truck and rail.

I recommend: Horizons Logistics offers rail and intermodal trucking services. View their website for a full list of services including air and ocean transport. Maersk is an expert in ocean transportation including container shipping. Dewry Shipping Consultants rates Maersk Line as No. 1 in schedule reliability. Rate quotes are available from both companies by request.

Consider employing intermodal brokers to manage intermodal freight shipments

Intermodal brokers handle the intermodal shipping and movement of freight, products or goods. They charge a base rate for their services. All shipments are tracked and kept on the client's requested timetable. Intermodal brokers can be a supplement to intermodal transport if service and cost are efficient.

I recommend: Handy Freight Brokers offers intermodal freight shipping services by truck, rail, airplane and ocean carrier. Review their services and request a rate quote. Road King Freight Logistics specializes in intermodal trucking. The website provides current intermodal shipping rates and door-to-door timely service. They serve the United States and Canada.
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Intermodal Transportation Basics

Intermodal shipping is a very efficient way to transport goods.
Intermodal transport works on a very simple principle: move cargo from one place to another while handling it as little as possible. This shipping method typically requires specialized equipment that can move shipping containers without disrupting their contents, which is why most shippers use intermodal transport companies for their shipping. Intermodal transportation services operate in nearly every shipping capacity ... Read more

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