Intermodal freight transport means movement of freight in a container using multiple multiple methods of transportation such as trucks, trains, ships, barges, etc. without any handling of the freight itself when the mode of transportation changes. This process reduces unnecessary handling, risk and of course if the most efficient. In simple terms, this means a factory loading all the widgets for example into a container and then a truck carrying the container to a rail yard where it is loaded onto a train. Then the train offloads the container in a port where it loaded again onto a ship for delivery across the world. The container that was first packed in the factory is never opened during this process until it reaches it final destination.
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Source: American Association of Railroads(AAR)
Related stocks:
- Canadian National Railway Co (CNI)
- Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd(CP)
- CSX Corp (CSX)
- Kansas City Southern (KSU)
- Union Pacific(UNP)
- Norfolk Southern Corp(NSC)
Disclosure: Long CSX, CNI and UNP
