Introduction
Intermodal transport is a system made up of a chain of carrier services in two or more modes. These are interspersed with modal interface services and others provided by cargo, vehicles, and the various actors involved in these activities. Like unimodal transport, the intermodal chain is a system composed of two levels. Firstly, there is a physical or infrastructural one, through which vehicles and cargo circulate. Secondly, there exists a functional one, directly involved in transport services and those provided to cargo. The characteristics of the current world economy, such as the increase in international market competition, require companies to develop a program for the continuous improvement of all the processes of their global supply chains. Such changes must aim to satisfy the customers by offering them high-quality products at affordable prices. Thus, it is vital to choose a transport service that ensures lower costs and improves customer service. An intermodal transport system that utilizes road, rail, and the air is effective, ensures efficiency, and offers business owners and consumers the flexibility to transport and acquire a wide range of products.
Background
The impact of the interrelationships of transport modes on the performance of current international supply chains is undeniable. The correct use of the intermodal system can have a significant impact on the competitiveness of countries at the regional level and with the rest of the world. Even though there are multiple intermodal and multimodal experiences in most regions, many problems limit the growth of these transport systems (Resat & Turkay, 2015). For this reason, the steps below will help develop a highly effective structure of a transportation system. The process shall identify how different transportation elements can improve the flow of goods and services in these chains.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
My concept in the design of an Intermodal Transportation Systems
My design involves the use of road, rail, and air transport. Firstly, a company or business moves the products by road to the railway station. Then, the local suppliers shall deliver the goods by rail where the company owns or hires containers to take them to the airport and finally, to their destination place or country. Different sectors interested in the development of this system must participate in each intermodal chain for it to be effective. The systems include transport operators and logistics services, agents, users, governments, regional integration schemes, and research centers, among others. The sectors must work together to achieve these objectives. From the airport in the place or country of destination, the products shall be delivered to the consumers through rail or road networks. Communication is vital for all sections of this intermodal system.
Advantages of My Intermodal Design Concept
My suggested system advocates for the use of road, rail, and air transport. The use of road transport in my design is advantageous because it is the most used medium. Besides, it is more beneficial due to the extensive network of national and international roads that connect to the most remote points of geography. The fact that some places do not have a seaport, air or railway station, undoubtedly favors the supremacy of road transport. Thus, road transports and systems are the most economical since they are the cheapest means of transport, compared to airplanes and ships. Additionally, vehicles do not require a disbursement as high as in other means, which makes it cheaper. That is why my design will not maintain an infrastructure that is too large to compromise a high volume of own resources.
The use of rail makes it possible to transport goods and services for long distances. Its operating costs are usually quite low, and it is possible to move varieties of goods. The air transport will deliver the products quickly to their destination (Assadipour, Ke & Verma, 2015). Thus, it will save time and help a company increase its market share because clients will get their products on time. Communication shall ensure that the delivery of the products and services is as planned initially. Whenever there is a problem, communication will help in getting the desired solutions.
Disadvantages of My Intermodal Design Concept
My system risks a high rate of accidents since it uses the road as part of its locomotion system. Roads are transport mechanisms with high potentials of failure, as evidenced by statistics on the roads while air is the medium that has a lower index (Willing, Brandt & Neumann, 2017). The rail transport, on the other hand, is subject to physical restrictions on the volume and speed of passage through diverse types of measures, including the transportation schedule. In some countries, there is inadequate or minimal railway infrastructure. Use of air transport is costly, that will raise the overall cost of my transport design. In the case of communication breakdown, my intermodal transportation system may lead to delays and inconveniences.
Conclusion
An efficient and cost-effective intermodal transportation system is vital for any firm that wishes to achieve high economic growth and expansion. My design faces the challenge on the use and evolution of advances in technology, applicable in major economic sectors. In this sense, tools such as GPS tracking have allowed an evolutionary leap in intermodal transport. They have enabled a better job performance, achieving greater efficiency with a considerable cost reduction. The implementation of fleet management tools and other specialized software will be a critical factor for this design in the new competitive environment. These allow structured and updated information in real-time, leading to the achievement of a more agile and efficient service in addition to better use of resources.
References
Assadipour, G., Ke, G. Y., & Verma, M. (2015). Planning and managing intermodal transportation of hazardous materials with capacity selection and congestion. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review , 76 , 45-57.
Resat, H. G., & Turkay, M. (2015). Design and operation of intermodal transportation network in the Marmara region of Turkey. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review , 83 , 16-33.
Willing, C., Brandt, T., & Neumann, D. (2017). Intermodal mobility. Business & Information Systems Engineering , 59 (3), 173-179.
