Glossary

Combined Transportation

Definition

Combined transportation, also known as intermodal or multimodal transportation, is a logistics strategy that involves using multiple modes of transportation to move goods from their origin to their destination. This method combines the advantages of various transportation modes, such as road, rail, air, and sea, to optimize the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of the shipping process. Combined transportation often includes the use of standardized containers or swap bodies, which can be easily transferred between different vehicles or vessels without requiring the goods to be unloaded and reloaded.

— sennder Team

FAQ

Combined transportation is important in logistics because it offers a flexible, efficient, and cost-effective solution for the movement of goods across long distances or complex routes. By combining the strengths of different transportation modes, combined transportation can help to minimize transit times, reduce transportation costs, and improve the overall efficiency and sustainability of the supply chain.
Some key benefits of using combined transportation include: - Improved efficiency: Combined transportation allows for the optimization of transit times and routes, ensuring that goods reach their destination as quickly and efficiently as possible. - Cost savings: By selecting the most cost-effective transportation modes for each leg of the journey, combined transportation can help to minimize overall shipping costs. - Enhanced flexibility: Combined transportation offers the ability to adapt to changes in demand, capacity, or routing, providing a more agile and responsive logistics solution. - Environmental sustainability: By using more environmentally friendly modes of transport, such as rail or sea, combined transportation can help to reduce the carbon footprint of the logistics process.
While combined transportation offers many advantages, it can also present some challenges, such as the need for increased coordination and communication between the various parties involved in the shipping process. Additionally, combined transportation may require the use of specialized equipment, facilities, or infrastructure, which can be costly or limited in availability.
Example or usage in road freight logistics

A company needs to transport a shipment of goods from a factory in Germany to a distribution center in the United States. They decide to use combined transportation to optimize the shipping process, first transporting the goods by truck to a nearby port, then loading them onto a container ship for the transatlantic journey, and finally transferring them to a railcar for the last leg of the journey to the distribution center. By using this combined transportation strategy, the company is able to minimize transit times, reduce transportation costs, and improve the overall efficiency and sustainability of their supply chain.

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