Definition
Moving the same loading unit across multiple modes without handling the goods themselves at transfers.
Intermodal transport carries cargo in a single container or swap body across road, rail, and sea, so the goods are never rehandled at modal transfers — only the unit moves. This cuts handling cost, damage, and time at interchanges.
The practical distinction from multimodal transport is contractual: intermodal often involves separate contracts per leg, whereas multimodal places the whole journey under one operator. Both rely on standardized containers to make seamless transfers possible.
Related terms
Multimodal Transport
Carriage using two or more transport modes under a single contract and one responsible operator.
Transshipment
Transferring cargo from one vessel to another at an intermediate hub en route to the final destination.
TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit)
The standard capacity unit equal to one 20ft container, used to measure vessel and terminal volumes.
Ocean Freight
The transport of goods by sea, the dominant mode for high-volume international trade.
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