Applying sophisticated management techniques to freight transport offers the potential for significant cost savings as well as greater efficiency. Yet the inherent complexity of intermodal transport presents many challenges. This practical textbook on the operations of intermodal transport and logistics focuses on the practical concerns and the basics of operations, such as vehicles, containers, handling operations, logistics management and optimisation. All chapters are written by field specialists, and the volume includes additional chapters on economics, law and the environment to put the practical topics into context. It presents a balanced textbook for postgraduate students and also a reference text for those in industry or the public sector involved in the planning of intermodal freight transport.

Intermodal Freight Transportation conceptualizes intermodal transport as a set of physical, logical, financial and contractual flows, examining the barriers that impact intermodal freight services and the resulting performance variables. The book covers transport modes, agents, supply and demand patterns, key drivers, trends influencing the freight transportation sector, the evolution of supply and logistics chains, and the impacts of technological advancements, such as autonomous vehicles and e-commerce. In addition, the book covers transport agents, such as shippers, freight forwarders, integrators, and customs, as well as the demand for freight transport services and the key properties of goods. Readers will find a variety of new tools for analyzing and building effective transport chains that addresses component technology, information, responsibility, and financing dimension, along with sections on key organizational, regulatory, infrastructure and technological barriers. The book concludes with a look into the future of the freight transport sector. Presents a step-by-step approach that introduces key topics for understanding efficient intermodal transportation Focuses on the concept of fitness between the modes of transport profiles Contains numerous, real-world case studies throughout Examines performance metrics

Intermodal Freight Transportation conceptualizes intermodal transport as a set of physical, logical, financial and contractual flows, examining the barriers that impact intermodal freight services and the resulting performance variables. The book covers transport modes, agents, supply and demand patterns, key drivers, trends influencing the freight transportation sector, the evolution of supply and logistics chains, and the impacts of technological advancements, such as autonomous vehicles and e-commerce. In addition, the book covers transport agents, such as shippers, freight forwarders, integrators, and customs, as well as the demand for freight transport services and the key properties of goods. Readers will find a variety of new tools for analyzing and building effective transport chains that addresses component technology, information, responsibility, and financing dimension, along with sections on key organizational, regulatory, infrastructure and technological barriers. The book concludes with a look into the future of the freight transport sector. Presents a step-by-step approach that introduces key topics for understanding efficient intermodal transportation Focuses on the concept of fitness between the modes of transport profiles Contains numerous, real-world case studies throughout Examines performance metrics

. . . the book will be a valuable resource for students, researchers, policy makers and practitioners. Competition and Regulation in Network Industries The book is well balanced. . . The authors depict the reality of this complex world and identify the right strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Bart Jourquin, European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research . . . the editors and the expert contributors provide a timely overview of the present role and challenges of intermodal freight transport. . . the book will not only be appealing to academics and researchers with an interest in the emerging field of intermodal transport research. As the book is largely kept at an executive and policy level, it is also appealing to practitioners and policy makers. . . the book is a valuable contribution to the study of intermodal freight transport as a new transportation research application field. It is an essential reading for all stakeholders in the field of intermodal freight transportation, providing them with insight and tools to address the mounting academic and practical challenges in this segment of the transport and logistics market. Theo Notteboom, Journal of Transport Geography This book explores the great challenge of increasing the scope of intermodal freight transport. In view of the current dominant role of road transport and the increasing difficulties in coping with a growing number of vehicles in an efficient and sustainable way, intermodal freight transport could be considered a viable alternative. However, the book makes recognition of the fact that there is still a need to improve the performance of the intermodal transport system. The expert contributors provide an overview of the present role of intermodal freight transport, address opportunities to significantly improve current performance, and demonstrate design and modelling tools used to analyse and support this performance. Requirements for the implementation of intermodal innovations are also prescribed, and policies needed to improve competitiveness are outlined. Many factors contributing to the performance and competitiveness of intermodal freight transport are explored, from technological and organisational innovations through to institutional settings and policy frameworks. This comprehensive range of topics will attract a broad audience including academics, researchers, policymakers and practitioners involved in the design and development of freight transport systems. It will also strongly appeal to those with an interest in the future of freight transport.

This book provides an introduction to the whole concept of intermodal freight transport, the means of delivering goods using two or more transport modes, recounting both European experience and UK developments and reporting on the extensive political influences on this form of transport. This is placed into context with reference to developments in North America and Asia. Detailed explanations are given of the road and rail vehicles, the loading units and the transfer equipment used in such operations. In particular, the role of the Channel Tunnel in the development of long-haul combined transport operations between the UK and Europe is considered.

Recognizes the importance of freight transportation to the US and that intermodal freight transportation is a major technological and organizational trend affecting the sector's performance. Examining policy options, this report views that public investment in freight facilities is complex and they have been usually financed by the private sector.