Intermodal containers can be easily transferred between shipping methods without unloading cargo. They can be used for road, rail, and waterborne transport. They are versatile and recognized with every shipping option. They minimize the risk of damage and increase the chances of the entire order reaching the buyer.
An intermodal container is a type of container that can be easily transferred from one shipping method to another without the need to unload the cargo sealed inside the device. Containers of this type can be easily hitched to the body of a short or long haul truck, secured to a platform for rail transport, and can also be stacked and locked for use in waterborne freight transport. The fact that the container can be loaded at a point of origin then used to transport the goods using a multiplicity of shipping methods is what makes the process intermodal in nature.
There are a number of popular names for the intermodal container. These range from “sea can” when the containers are stacked on a barge for transport to “cargo hauler” when used to transport goods on roads. While the name may vary based on the actual methods of transportation used and the prevailing cultures in which the devices are used, the versatility of the containers is recognized with nearly every type of shipping option.
One of the best ways to understand the value of an intermodal container is to consider a customer order that will require the use of more than one mode of shipping to reach its intended destination. The container can be secured on a flatbed truck and driven to the point of origin. Once the goods are loaded and the container sealed, the device travels by road to a railway yard.
At the rail yard, the intermodal container is unhooked from the flatbed and loaded onto an open rail car platform. Once locked in place, the container is transported by rail to a seaport. The container is then loaded onto a barge with other containers scheduled to ship to the same general destination. Upon arrival at the destination seaport, the intermodal container is detached from the barge and can use a combination of rail and road transport to reach the buyer.
The benefit of using an intermodal container is that cargo often does not need to be loaded or unloaded into other shipping containers at any point along the route. This means there is less risk of damage to goods in transit. In addition, the possibility that a portion of the goods will be left behind at any trading point is minimized, increasing the chances that the entire order will reach the buyer without fail.
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