Quynh Ngo

Chapter 2 Essay

Today, intermodal freight transport has become a popular topic in the entire transportation industry.
Many companies have started using this freight transport option due to the multiple benefits this mode
of transportation provides.

The first, and probably most immediate benefit is economic efficiency. Intermodal shipping provides a
lower cost alternative to truckloads. Intermodal shipping gives companies access to rail even when their
facility or their customer’s facility doesn’t have tracks at their door, allowing them to reap the benefits
of rail without any capital investment. When shippers opt to drop trailers, they can take advantage of
lower handling cost rates, more manageable pricing, and the flexibility of loading and unloading goods.

Another important advantage from intermodal shipping is environmental sustainability. Transportation

is the biggest sector in carbon emission, and when shippers use intermodal freight shipping, they
significantly reduce their carbon footprint. Besides, trains only emit approximately 5.4 pounds of carbon
dioxide per 100 ton-miles. On the other hand, trucks emit carbon dioxide of about 19.8 pounds.
Moreover, one train can move an average of 280 trucks. An intermodal is four times more efficient than
trucking while rail can move per 450 ton-miles on a single gallon of fuel.

The third significant benefit to intermodal shipping is reducing traffic and congestion. As congestion
levels have grown on both urban and intercity highway routes, state and regional transportation
planners are starting to look more broadly at alternatives that can hold down or reduce traffic growth.
Since intermodal shipping only involves road at the last mile instead of the whole route like trucks, this
alternative becomes of particular interest when expanded use of rail freight can reduce either existing
traffic congestion levels or the need for expanding highway capacity in the future.