The term intermodal refers to moving a container or trailer by more than one mode of transportation—generally truck plus rail, ocean plus rail, ocean plus truck, or all three modes.
Efficiency is key when it comes to Intermodal transportation. It takes the large parts of responsibility from the shippers and instead processes it through one large efficient channel. Customers demand better execution of the supply chains. As such, intermodal combines the best abilities of different transportation modes to deliver service, savings, and solutions to shippers.
Customers no longer have to worry about how the various items processed within the shipping mode work together; instead, they can focus on their own company goals and other areas of growth.
Evaluating your Intermodal Needs
The first step to success in intermodal transportation is to identify your goals. Naturally, your intermodal objectives should line up with your corporate goals. This also includes creating sensible and concise contracts with your intermodal company, so that they adhere to timelines and schedules, so as to ensure customer satisfaction.
Fortunately, information technology helps make intermodal more attractive. It’s one of the reasons that Intermodal is growing faster than any other mode of transportation. Today, all parties in the supply chain use state-of-the-art technology to monitor shipments every step of the way. With real-time information, companies are keeping track of schedule changes and watching out for their customers’ shipments so they don’t have to.
Huge Amounts of Data in the Supply Chain
The data available for measurement with today’s technology is exceptional and allows for a variety of improvements for intermodal specialists. Measuring data is necessary to improve processes later and should be a part of any process that seeks new ways to increase efficiency. For example, you may evaluate data to modify and track revenues, costs, and margins, and help to streamline stops and points of call. Data organization is a crucial business tool of Intermodal Transportation.
Furthermore, Intermodal Transportation is integral to knowing your customer/vendor and customizing the processes for them through the data you gather. By measuring levels of compliance and offering the ease of an efficient network, you will create a seamless relationship between you and all the points of contact within your Intermodal Transportation network.
Customer Expectations will Continue to Grow
Customers have an enormous amount of data at their fingertips and this will likely increase, as transparency becomes a way of doing business. For providers who are able to support these higher expectations, the future of logistics looks bright.
