A Quick Guide to
Intermodal Transportation

What is Intermodal Shipping?

Intermodal transportation is the movement of freight by two or more modes of transportation, usually including rail and over-the-road trucking.

The goal of intermodal transportation is to move freight across long distances using the most efficient method possible. Because of this, the average intermodal shipment produces around 65% less carbon emissions than over-the-road shipments.

Here’s how typical intermodal shipping works:

- Containers arrive via truckload at an intermodal hub and are double stacked onto a train
- The train moves the freight from the origin hub to the destination hub where a crane moves the container from the train onto a chassis
- The container, now ready for over-the-road transportation, is coupled with a tractor and moves through the process of being delivered to its destination

Is Intermodal Transportation Right for My Business?

This is a question business leaders and supply chain managers regularly ask themselves. They often have concerns about service-sensitive freight or believe that intermodal can’t meet their business’s specific needs.

In reality, intermodal transportation has continued to evolve as providers have expanded capacity, strengthened rail networks and introduced new technologies. Today, intermodal supports a wide range of shipping requirements and may be an effective option for businesses seeking a balance of cost, capacity and service.

Factors to Consider When Evaluating an Intermodal Provider

The success of your intermodal operations depends on a provider’s ability to understand your future needs and exceed your expectations.

Here are a few factors to consider when searching for a provider:

Experience: Provider experience, industry collaborations and equipment availability can influence intermodal performance. For example, J.B. Hunt and the Santa Fe Railroad (now BNSF Railway) began working together in 1989 to expand intermodal transportation and today J.B. Hunt Intermodal operates one of North America's largest company-owned container fleets.

Expertise: Experienced teams can help shippers identify opportunities to create efficiencies, address disruptions and support long-term planning. Industry rankings can be one way to evaluate provider and team performance. The Journal of Commerce (JOC) Intermodal Scorecard is a widely recognized industry benchmark that collects data from shippers to measure domestic intermodal providers across key service categories.

Capacity: If you experience regular surges in demand, an asset-based provider can often accommodate greater flexibility, capacity availability and priority services.

Flexibility: Having a mode-neutral approach means finding the best solution for your freight rather than prioritizing only one mode of transportation. This can be invaluable for saving money and increasing efficiency.

Technology: Technology can help support transportation planning and shipment visibility through tools for booking, tracking and managing freight.

Customization and Specialized Services

Intermodal is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Depending on shipment requirements, freight may move between intermodal and over-the-road transportation or utilize special equipment. Intermodal transportation can support a variety of freight requirements, including priority services, temperature-controlled containers, international reach, global forwarding, transloading and more.