Insights About Intermodal Trucking

As we know, the transportation industry runs through several methods for moving the goods across the globe. Transportation via ships, railroads, trucks and by road are essential and the backbone of the industry.  It is a deal of task to transport goods and commodities from manufacturers to customers and also cross their expectations. Of course, you, truckers need to maintain the deadline too.

Over the years, there has been a drastic difference in freight movement globally through intermodal container. Keep reading to know more about them.

Definition:

Intermodal trucking, deals with special standardized containers to transport cargo on trucks, freight trains and ships. As these containers are steel based, adding ease, to transfer from one mode of transportation to another.  The physical container is known as chassis, basically a larger rectangular box that can be secured to special trailers. However, these containers are constructed in various sizes ranging from 20-foot standard to 53 foot by 102 inch units.

Types of Containers:

To start with, the standard containers are used to transport dry goods. As they include perishable goods, refrigerated containers are available to ship climate-controlled loads. The units of refrigeration within the containers are located in the nose or the undercarriage of the container, but in each case, the unit is inbuilt one as per the framework. You will also find the cooling unit on the top of the container but that is a rare case as the unit needs to be fueled and maintained during transportation.

Over- The –Road Transportation:

Here, the container is loaded from a ship or train onto the semi trailer or trailer chassis with the help of a crane or a forklift. Then the tractor-trailer delivers the container to the destination or to the railroad terminal or port for further transportation.

However, this method has its own sets of advantages and disadvantages, framing the methodology simpler.

Pros:

The advantage about intermodal trucking is that, it is easily transferable from one mode to another. Once the load is separated from a trailer chassis, the unit can be stacked for storage or shipment abroad ships or even loaded to a flatbed rail car.

Cons:

As the intermodal containers are made of steel and they tend to be heavy and the solid structure can be an issue within the cargo has to be blocked and braced for shipping. This is a serious concern, when the containers are used to transport hazardous materials.

However, intermodal trucking is a part of the business; the main share comes in with taxes. Though truckers are the most dedicated, hard workers, filing taxes on time and serving the nation gives us a sense of pride and dignifies our living. Tax2290.com salutes the flavors of trucking and also the dedication truckers own within themselves. You have been our inspiration to serve the nation, and that’s what we’re doing today, Serving the nation and their real heroes.

Leave a Reply