trends in intermodal freight transport

7/28/2019 Trends in Intermodal Freight Transport

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TRENDS IN INTERMODAL FREIGHT TRANSPORT

Today intermodal is often associated with a variety of transportation activities and is oftenused to refer many of the important overall advances in freight transportation and logistics of

recent years.

Freight transportation is a joint enterprise of the private sector and government. Private firmsprovide nearly all the direct service to shippers and own transportation equipments and someportions of the infrastructure. The government provides major infrastructure components like

ports and harbors, airports and airways, and inland waterways.

The transportation industry is rapidly changing due to technological advances and search forfaster and cheaper ways to transport freight across the globe.

Intermodal freight transport is a system for transporting goods, particularly over longer distances

and across international borders, which uses a combination of two or more individual modes,

such as road haulage and rail freight, or road haulage and inland waterway barge, to achieve themost economic, efficient and environmentally-friendly delivery of loads to their destination.

Rail-Rail- Intermodal rail technology has changed rapidly especially in the areas of automation and

flat car equipment. Most advances have been incremental changes to existing technologies.

Articulated cars represent the type of technology. Articulated cars are light in weight, have lower

purchase prices, are less expensive to maintain, and prevent cargo damage by eliminating mostslack action and roll dynamics between cars.


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The government and rail industry are developing Intelligent railroad System that will incorporate

evolving information into train operations and maintenance. Some of them are client servicesystem and a train control and dispatching system. Other developments are Nationwide

Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS), Positive Train Control (PTC), electronically

controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes, automatic equipment identification tags for all equipments,

way side equipment sensors to identify defects on passing trains, and intelligent grade crossingsto reduce grade crossing collisions.

Motor CarriersMost of the advances in this mode are in fuel efficient factors and lighter and stronger trailers

with increased cargo capacity. Also the commercial vehicle operations(CVO) initiative, which is

a part of the intelligent Transportation system is expected to improve administrative efficiency,

highway data collection, safety and reduce operating costs to commercial vehicles.

Aviation-

Aviation continues to expand its role in intermodal freight transportation in shipment of highvalue and time sensitive cargo. Large aircrafts like Boeing 747-400 freighter and

MD-11 and now Russias Antonov-124, can accommodate 20 and 40 foot international

organization for standardization (ISO) ocean containers. However until lighter and stronger seaair containers are developed and used, the additional handling cost of transferring cargos


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between the heavier ISO ocean containers and the ISO air containers will continue to be more

costly than all ocean service. To accommodate this growth and enhance safety the Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA) is engaged in a comprehensive program to modernize Air Traffic(ATS) Control System. This includes replacing radar surveillance systems, modernizing voice

communication systems introducing enhanced automated navigation aids, data links, and

improved weather systems.Water waysTodays containers vessels have 50 % more cargo capacity than those of 1975 and some are

triple the size. An 8000 twenty foot equivalent unit (TEU) ship was developed in 1997 and

13000 TEU ship design is currently being studied. When these ships were produced in 1970s,they required many waterways and ports to be deepened to accommodate the increasing drafts of

these vessels

Equipment

Containers, also known as intermodal containers or as ISO containers because the dimensionshave been defined by the ISO, are the main type of equipment used in intermodal transport,

particularly when one of the modes of transportation is by ship.

Containers are eight feet (2438 mm) wide by eight feet (2438 mm) high. Since introduction,there have been moves to adopt other heights, such as eight feet six inches (2591 mm), nine feet

six inches (2896 mm) and ten feet six inches (3200 mm). The most common lengths are 20 feet

(6096 mm) nominal or 19 feet - 10 in (6058 mm) actual, 40 feet (12192 mm), 48 feet (14630

mm) and 53 feet (16154 mm), although other lengths exist. They are made out of steel and canbe stacked on top of each other (a popular term for a two-high stack is "double stack"). On ships

they are typically stacked up to seven units high. They can be carried by truck, rail, container

ship, or aero plane. When carried by rail, containers can be loaded on flatcars or in container wellcars. In Europe, stricter railway height restrictions (smaller loading gauge and structure gauge)

prohibit containers from being stacked two high, and containers are hauled one high either on

standard flatcars or other railroad cars.

Open-topped versions covered by a fabric curtain are used to transport larger loads. A containercalled a tanktainer, consisting of a tank fitted inside a standard container frame, allows liquids to

be carried. Refrigerated containers are used for perishables. There is also the swap body, which

is typically used for road and rail transport, as they are built too lightly to be stacked. They havefolding legs under their frame so that they can be moved between trucks without using a crane.

INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF INTERMEDIARIESWhile the intermodal industry has experienced strong growth over much of the last two decades,

the industry has had a number of service problems that may prevent predicted growth from

occurring. Many of these service problems relate to the structure of the intermodal industry and

conflict between the intermediaries. This conflict has prevented the close coordination andcommunications needed to optimize efficiency within the industry.

The industry is structured around each individual mode of transportation and because of

intermodal transfers often require the coordination of government entities and multiple privateentities, physical and organizational bottlenecks sometimes develop the affect the performance of

the entire freight system.


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Conflict between the intermediaries, who in the past have functioned predominantly within their

own respective mode, has impeded the formation of mechanisms to coordinate access to

intermodal equipment, facilities, and the flow of information between modes during intermodaloperations

TECHNOLOGIES IN INTERMODAL FREIGHT MANAGEMENTDevelopments in advanced technologies have been the greatest factor which influenced changesin intermodal freight transportation. Some of the advanced technologies which have thoroughly

transformed the nations transportation system are information technology used in freight

transportation system.

Information Technology-

Information technology plays an important part in intermodal freight transport. IT has enabled its

users to plan, track audit and document intermodal shipments in real time.Intermodal freight movement is increasingly become mode invisible as the ability to interconnect

and interchange information among the modes is optimized.

The Transportation efficiency act for the 21st century focused on maturing informationtechnologies and their development. The U.S department of Transportation (DOT) created the

Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) architecture and drafting of related standards. ITS

represents the application of advanced technologies involving information processing,

electronics and communications, and management strategies, to improve intermodaltransportation system.

DOT was required to develop intermodal transportation data base (ITDB). The ITDB provides a

single data mining portal from all the Bureau of transportation statistics (BTS) and DOToperating units.

The website www.bts.gov will provide analysts and the public with transportation safety,

demographics, travel, and economic statistics.

As companies connect, the growing use of internet and the trends in electronic commerce appearto be improving the visibility of inventory and its location within supply chains.

VEHICLE AND CARGO TRACKING TECHNOLOGIESCargo Tracking Technologies include Bar Code with Laser Read out, Magnetic Card and Strip

Reader, Smart Cards, Radio Frequency Cards, Transponders and Readers. Vehicle

Tracking Technologies mainly employ the use of the positional information from theGlobal Position System (GPS) which provides real-time tracking of the vehicle and cargo

BETTER INTERMODAL FLEET MANAGEMENT THROUGH TRACKING

AND LOGISTICS

Radiolocation or Navigational Systems have emerged with well-developed cellular or

communication channels. This combines Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) with paging, voiceand data communication to a national or regional dispatch and logistics node.

ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)


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EDI, systems take information from all available sources and make decisions and performs

controls to maximize efficiency. EDI systems can minimize unnecessary paperwork by providing

facility to perform transactions on-line.

EMERGING AND FUTURE TRENDS FOR INTERMODAL FREIGHT AND

FLEET MANAGEMENT OPERATIONSINTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM (ITS)Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) is a system that improves transportation safety and

mobility and enhances productivity through the use of advanced communications technologies.

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) encompass a broad range of wireless and wire linecommunications-based information and electronics technologies. When integrated into the

transportation system's infrastructure, and in vehicles themselves, these technologies relieve

congestion, improve safety and enhance productivity.

ITS is one of the major emerging Intermodal Freight and Fleet Management Operationstechnology.

ITS offers the following benefits:

Increase of operational efficiency and capacity of the transportation system.Enhancement of personal mobility, convenience, and comfort.

Improvement of safety of the transportation system.

Reduction of energy consumption and environmental costs.

Enhancement of the present and future economic productivity of individuals, organizations andthe economy as a whole

Vehicle information, Intermodal Freight Depot information and Intermodal FreightShipper Information is continuously available with the Fleet and Freight Management System

(ITS). Driver can request data and status information from the Fleet and Freight Management

System (ITS). Automated updates about traffic, weather, or schedule updates are provided via

messages or alerts to the driver from the Fleet and Freight Management System (ITS).

INTERMODAL CONTAINER TECHNOLOGIES

Along with the development of the transportation systems there is also a need for thestandardization and modularization of container design.

Not only is the container size increasing but also the design is evolving to make containers

stackable, roll able and solid able onto freight carriers like ships, trucks, etc.Recent innovations have included the use of advanced materials for higher capacity, lower

weight, better performance and life.

Other innovations have incorporated various electronic and mechanical design changes fortransportation of different kinds of goods. Examples: Refrigeration for perishable goods, thermal

protection, climate control, etc.

Since 1984, a mechanism for intermodal shipping known as double-stack rail transport has

become increasingly common. Rising to the rate of nearly 70% of intermodal shipments, ittransports more than one million containers per year. The double-stack rail cars unique design

also significantly reduced damage in transit, and provided greater cargo security by cradling the

lower containers so their doors cannot be opened. And a succession of large, new domesticcontainer sizes was introduced to further enhance shipping productivity for customers. As early


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as the 1970s, double stack designs and equipment were introduced, but the cars were heavy and

uneconomical to operate.

A common standard for containers would help ports to have standardized equipment resulting instreamline of the transfer processes. It exploits technologies like tracking, control and

communication to form integrated carriers like FedEx.

ADVANCED CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIESTechnologies have been integrated with real-time control and logistics decision-making

software; this approach is becoming widely adopted by trucking firms and distribution service

providers. This concept has produced successful organizations like Fed-Ex, DHL, UPS etc.Technology-based improvements such as real-time grade crossing supervision and warning

systems, supervisory control distributed networks; solid-state interlocking controls will enhance

railroad safety operational efficiency.

CONCLUSION

Intermodal Freight and Fleet Management Operation is the future of the transportation that

promises a seamless intermodal transportation system that is efficient, safe, flexible, andenvironmentally sound, and meets the needs of the travelers and industry alike.

There are several important reasons why governments need to be actively involved in advanced

Intermodal freight transportation.

The availability of quality-focused, cost-effective intermodal freight transportation services canaffect how well the firms in a region can compete economically in the battlefield of regional and

global economic competition. Thus, jobs, incomes, and growth all depend significantly on

logistics capabilities. Governments have an interest in promoting inter-modal freighttransportation expertise: in stimulating the development of up to date intermodal freight

transportation services providers; and in reducing regulatory and other barriers to the ability of

providers to offer attractive services. Intermodal freight transportation services and the fees paid

by service providers for facilities, transportation, and information services, and taxes can beimportant sources of revenues to governments.

Actions in the intermodal freight transportation domain can have important environmental,

health, and safety consequences and these are important concerns of governments. Often,governments are the major providers of transportation infrastructure that supports the provision

of inter-modal freight transportation services, such as air and ocean cargo facilities, intermodal

transfer terminals, and others.For some modes, the levels of congestion and delays in transportation and terminals are an

important issue. Therefore, governments are actively involved in planning, investment, pricing,

and/or operational decisions that influence the provision of capacity and the pricing and time

dependent availability of facilities and services.

Often, the logistics services sector is a sector with many small and medium-sized enterprises. In

many countries, governments are concerned with viability and survival of such enterprises, and

want to ensure this survival through providing awareness programs, educational and resource-expansion export.

Although freight transportation has benefited from improvements in information and equipmenttechnologies over the past years, the progress linking the evolving information and transportation


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systems has been slowed by lack of network infrastructure, and lack of expertise in some sectors

that participate in the freight transportation system.

trends in intermodal freight transport

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