Multimodal transportation is the delivery of goods by several modes of transport under one contract and with one responsible carrier-operator. For example, by car to the port, by sea or river to another port and again by car to the consignee's warehouse.
Multimodal or intermodal
In multimodal transportation, the client works with one operator and receives one end-to-end document. In intermodal, each section is processed separately, and the cargo usually goes in one cargo unit - a container or a semi-trailer - without overloading the goods themselves. In practice, the most important thing for the client is who is responsible for the cargo all the way and who solves the problems at the junctions. We have one logistician.
When the combination of transport is more profitable
- Long sea routes: Turkey, the Middle East, the Caucasus — the sea shoulder is cheaper than several thousand kilometers of highways
- Large consignments that are equally transported by several cars or wagons
- Cargo from ports: removal from sea and Danube ports to warehouses in Ukraine
- When queues at the border make direct freight slower than ferry or rail
Typical schemes we work with
- Car + ferry: a semi-trailer or container is transported by sea, on the other side it is picked up by a tractor
- Port + car: the cargo arrives at the port (Izmail, Reni, Odesa, Chornomorsk) and is then transported by trucks
- Rail + car: by rail to the border terminal, transshipment from the track 1520 to 1435 mm or by car
What to consider when planning
The multimodal scheme has more "joints": the ferry schedule, free seats at the terminal, the unloading window. That is why it is important to allow time and reserve a sea or railway section in advance. We plan the entire link together: we put the car under the ship, track the cargo at each stage and notify the client.
For regular deliveries, a multimodal scheme often offers savings of 15-30% compared to direct truck - especially on routes from Turkey and from ports.
Useful links
Translated from Ukrainian automatically.