Multimodal transportation is the transportation of goods using several modes of transport. For example, the cargo is first delivered by sea from China to a port. Then it is sent by railway to the destination country, and finally, the goods are brought to the recipient by truck. Many people are involved in organizing all these processes, but one logistics company is responsible for them. Each stage is carried out within the framework of one transportation contract, and common documentation is used for them.
Multimodal transportation allows finding the best way to deliver the goods to the recipient. Despite the involvement of different modes of transport, transportation costs are reduced thanks to multimodal transportation. The speed of delivery also increases - transportation is seamless and the distance is covered faster because the optimal mode of transport is used for each situation.
The main difficulty of multimodal transportation is in the proper organization of all stages of delivery. The logistics company must control all processes and be confident in the contractors - the reliability of delivery depends on this. For the successful organization of multimodal transportation, high coordination and control over all stages of transportation are required. The organization of multimodal transportation includes several stages.
- Choosing the route and determining the ways of transporting the cargo. The logistics company evaluates the characteristics of the cargo, the distance of transportation, and the necessary delivery date. Based on these factors, modes of transport are selected, and a route is built. At the same time, the cost of delivery is calculated, and adjustments are made if necessary.
- Document processing. In multimodal transportation, all types of delivery are combined into a single ecosystem, so the documentation must also be common. Proper documentation will avoid problems when crossing borders and transferring goods from one contractor to another.
- Transportation of the cargo. The cargo is transported using the selected modes of transport and agreed-upon route. An important point of this stage is the transshipment of goods when the cargo is moved from one transport to another. It is necessary to ensure that everything happens synchronized and with the correct documentation.
- Receiving the cargo. After delivering the goods to the final point, the cargo must be inspected, accepted, and the necessary documentation confirming this must be prepared.
