3 Factors to Consider with Intermodal Transport

by | Jul 31, 2018 | Transportation and Logistics

Considering intermodal transport within Chicago? This transportation solution can offer a wide range of benefits, depending on your cargo, your shipping needs, and the intermodal transport company that you choose. Of course, there are several things that you need to consider before deciding that this is the right solution for you.

What Is Intermodal Transport?

First, let’s discuss what intermodal transport is. It’s nothing more than using a single container to ship your goods with varying transportation methods, but with rail shipping being the primary method. For instance, you might load your goods into a steel shipping container, and then have that container loaded on a freight train. It would then be offloaded onto a truck at another point, and then the container might be offloaded at a warehouse.

It’s Usually Slower

One of the more important factors to consider is that intermodal shipping is often slower than truck-based shipping, although it is faster than shipping by water. With that being said, it does not have to mean critical delays to your shipment. If you work with the right provider, you can still benefit from same-day local delivery and expedited regional delivery. Again, note that you need to pay attention when choosing your transport provider, as not all of them can offer this.

It’s Greener

There is a misconception out there that rail shipping is “dirtier” than shipping by truck. That’s not the case. Not only are today’s train engines more efficient than ever before, but there is also the fact that it takes only one engine to carry tens of thousands of pounds of goods, which would take many, many trucks. Those trucks create a lot of emissions, consume a lot of diesel fuel, and add a lot of pollution to the environment.

In the end, intermodal transport in Chicago is not your only option, and it may not be the best solution for all cases. However, it can be highly beneficial in some different scenarios. The key is to work with a trusted shipping provider who can provide you with unbiased guidance, as well as expert shipping solutions.

We invite you to contact Larry’s Cartage Company, Inc., today at 630-920-0772 to learn more about our capabilities, our reputation, our capacity to move your cargo where you need it on time, and more. We look forward to filling your shipping needs.

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