Problems and Prospects for Intermodal Transport: Theoretical Tools for Practical Breakthroughs?

Standardised cargo units, such as the container, have been a great technical invention for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of international transport chains. Maybe the biggest advantage of these units comes from their modularity. Modularisation can also be seen as a prerequisite for future transport systems while integrating the physcial cargo flows and related information more closely with each other. This paper describes the development and future prospects of three fundamental factors in intermodal transport: (1) modular service offerings, (2) transport chain coordination, and (3) enabling network technologies. The focus of service offerings is on the match between customer needs and different type of transportation services. Transport chain coordination concentrates on the service production perspective, and the coordination of activities in transportation chains. The enabling technologies focus on the developments regarding electronic information sharing and physical distribution.