Depending upon the port facilities available, many of these containers move between rail yards and the waterfront by truck. These are heavy loads that need to move quickly, allowing both the sea-going and land-based (and often air-based) modes of transportation to operate on very tight schedules.
An intermodal system has two broad categories:
1) Equipment (containers, vehicles, and terminals)
2) Information and communication services
The intermodal transportation system is shaped by at least 3 forces:
1) new and emerging technologies
2) fast changes in markets and trading patterns
3) and deregulation and (re) regulation
Other factors shaping the system are the supporting infrastructure (or lack thereof) and the efficiency and effectiveness of labor (its skills and bargaining methods).
8. NEXT SLIDE LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
There many things to consider in the movement of goods and materials from origin to destination in today's global information economy. First and most of all we need have a systems perspective to understand how global structural change and new technologies are impacting trade and transportation routes. International sourcing of components and materials is much more common place. In addition to economic considerations, social and cultural as well as environmental considerations are now very important. In the movement of things “just-in-time” and in the integration of corporate international operations, supply-chain management, EDI, landside access and freight mobility is also becoming more important. Then we also have the emergence of Electronic Commerce which is adding a new dimension to global trade that will impact ports and economies around the world.
