Intermodal refers to moving a single shipment using two or more forms of transportation.

Domestic intermodal moves in 53’ containers or trailers and usually involves two truck moves combined with a rail move.

International intermodal moves in 20’, 40’ or 45’ containers and involves a vessel and truck move or a vessel, rail and truck move.  

The main advantages of intermodal are reliable capacity, cost effectiveness and long-term contracted rates. Intermodal is also environmentally sustainable as it uses less fuel, generates less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than truck and removes additional trucks from highways.

Intermodal tends to be slower than truck service and can be more complex to price and operate.

Intermodal freight must be blocked and braced to prevent load movement while on the rail. Additionally, intermodal equipment can hold slightly less weight than truck, about 43,000 lbs., due to the weight of the chassis.

Shipments moving over 500 miles total length of haul, cross-border movements and anything within 100 miles of major metropolitan areas with intermodal ramps.

Tobacco, pharmaceuticals, household goods, high-value shipments (over $100k) requiring additional insurance, steel coils, wire reels or loose metal requiring special loading and approval.

Container-on-Flatcar (COFC) is when only a container is loaded on the train and allows for double stacking, which is the most common and cost-effective method used. Trailer-on-Flatcar (TOFC) includes a trailer or is a container on a chassis, this configuration cannot be double stacked and is more expensive.

As counterintuitive as it may seem, 3PLs tend to have easier access intermodal equipment than asset-based carriers as they can pull from their vast network of vendors whereas asset-based carriers can only provide their own equipment, making them more likely to run into shortages or being unable to assist on moves outside their region. Additionally, 3PLs are carrier and transportation mode agnostic, meaning they will use the best transportation option to meet a customer's needs on any given shipment. Lastly, 3PLs are more likely to be able to provide other value-added services due to their solution-based business models, which can help improve overall supply chain health and reliability.