Freight Glossary
Intermodal – Meaning & Examples
Transportation using multiple modes (ship, rail, truck) with standardized containers.
- Related terms
- intermodal transport, container transport, multimodal
Intermodal transportation involves moving cargo in standardized containers using multiple transport modes without handling the cargo itself when changing modes. A container can move from ship to rail to truck seamlessly. Intermodal combines the long-distance efficiency of rail or ocean with the flexibility of trucking for first/last mile. It reduces handling costs, damage risk, and transit time compared to trans-loading between modes.
Intermodal examples
- Containers arriving by ship in Long Beach transfer to rail for delivery to Chicago, then truck to final destination.
How Intermodal is used in freight operations
Intermodal appears in quotations, bookings, shipping documents, and tracking updates. Confirm how it applies to your shipment with your carrier, forwarder, or customs representative, because practice can differ by country and contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Intermodal?
Transportation using multiple modes (ship, rail, truck) with standardized containers.
What is an example of Intermodal?
Containers arriving by ship in Long Beach transfer to rail for delivery to Chicago, then truck to final destination.