Intermodal

Intermodal is the movement of shipping containers by multiple means of transport; cargo ship, railroad, and truck. The global economy relies heavily on this mode of transport and it is considered the least expensive shipping service. In 2014, it was estimated that the worldwide number of containers past the 20 million mark. China has the lowest cost steel production and as such the vast majority of containers are built in China. Intermodal has been a service for more than 100 years but became the mode of transport starting in the 1990s. More than 60% of all freight is moved by intermodal container service. This number includes dry goods as well as bulk gases and liquids.

In America, intermodal has practically ended the transport of goods coast to coast by truck. Container delivery service now moves by train to within 500 miles of a destination. Only then does truck transport get involved.