How one box changes modes
The cargo stays put while the equipment changes hands. A ship-to-shore crane lifts the container off the vessel, the terminal or a nearby rail yard loads it onto a railcar, and at the inland end a lift machine sets it on a truck chassis. On many North American routes, containers ride double-stacked in well cars. Every handoff depends on the next mode's schedule, so a full or cancelled train can leave a container waiting even when the ship was on time.
Ocean boxes and domestic 53-foot units
International intermodal moves ocean containers, usually 20- and 40-foot boxes from shipping lines or lessors, between ports and inland points. Domestic intermodal mostly uses 53-foot containers and trailers that do not go to sea. Both can share the same trains and ramps, yet they are booked and tracked differently. An ocean carrier reports on its own containers, while a domestic load is followed through the railroad or the intermodal marketing company that sold the move.
Events to expect on an intermodal import
An intermodal import produces more events than a port-to-port move. Not every carrier reports each step, and railroad and carrier timestamps can disagree by hours. When a container goes quiet after discharge, check whether it is waiting for a train, held, or simply between reports. CargoScope shows rail milestones beside the ocean events on the same shipment when the carrier reports them.
- Discharge, then loaded on rail and rail departure
- Rail arrival and availability at the inland ramp
- Outgate, delivery and empty return
Example
OOLU3811040 is discharged in Los Angeles, travels by train to Chicago, and goes by truck to a warehouse in Joliet, with the cargo staying in the same box the whole way.
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Questions
What does Intermodal mean?
Intermodal transport moves freight in the same container or trailer across two or more modes, such as ship, rail and truck, without handling the cargo when it changes modes. In North America, the word often means a rail move with trucks at each end.
What is the difference between intermodal and multimodal?
The terms overlap: intermodal stresses that one container or trailer moves across modes, while multimodal usually means a single operator takes responsibility for the whole trip under one contract, whatever the equipment.
Is intermodal cheaper than trucking?
Over long distances rail is often cheaper per load than a truck, but it is usually slower and adds handoffs. Short runs and urgent freight tend to stay on the road.