What are the best strategies for intermodal transportation planning in the US?

Intermodal transportation planning is the process of coordinating the movement of goods and passengers using different modes of transportation, such as rail, truck, ship, and air. It can help reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance environmental sustainability in the transportation sector. However, intermodal transportation planning also faces many challenges, such as infrastructure gaps, regulatory barriers, and operational issues. In this article, you will learn about some of the best strategies for intermodal transportation planning in the US, and how they can help you optimize your transportation network.

1 Identify your intermodal goals

Before you start planning your intermodal transportation, you need to define your goals and objectives. What are you trying to achieve with intermodal transportation? Do you want to lower your transportation costs, increase your service levels, reduce your carbon footprint, or diversify your transportation options? Your goals will help you determine the best intermodal solutions for your needs, and guide your decision-making process. You should also consider your budget, timeline, and risk tolerance, as these factors will affect your intermodal choices.

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Orcy Jacques Lemos

Fouder | JL Especialista
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Visto que EUA estão com seu sistema de transporte ocorrendo de forma muito eficiente. Diferente do Brasil que utiliza apenas transporte terrestre ate hoje não possue planejamento estratégico claro de logistica devido a lobes. Fica claro que a estratégia apresentada e bem estruturada tem como objetivo trazer eficiencia e redução de custos operacionais.

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W Terry Digby

VP of Sales
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If you have a destination in mind, you need to know how to get there. Literally and figuratively. Setting market goals, industry goals, partner goals, and growth goals are essential to a plan realized.

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2 Evaluate your intermodal options

Once you have your goals in mind, you need to evaluate your intermodal options and compare them with your current transportation methods. There are many intermodal options available in the US, such as rail intermodal, truck-rail intermodal, domestic intermodal, international intermodal, and multimodal. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your cargo type, origin, destination, volume, frequency, and urgency. You should analyze the costs, benefits, and trade-offs of each option, and select the one that best suits your goals and requirements.

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W Terry Digby

VP of Sales
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IM capacity is limited with strong competitors dominating this space. Learning your options and knowing competitor's weakness and strengths are essential to building a niche in the industry.

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Hermes A.

Hermitho
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Verdadeira mente falando sobre a estratégia dos EUA, que é bastante viável, mais aqui no Brasil, a proposta viável é que os automóveis sempre usem as pistas de asfalto, com e sem buraco, mesmo com acidentes indesejável.

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3 Choose your intermodal partners

After you have selected your intermodal option, you need to choose your intermodal partners. These are the transportation providers, intermediaries, and facilitators that will help you execute your intermodal transportation. You should look for partners that have experience, expertise, and capacity in intermodal transportation, and that can offer you competitive rates, reliable service, and flexible solutions. You should also establish clear communication, collaboration, and coordination with your partners, and ensure that they share your intermodal goals and expectations.

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W Terry Digby

VP of Sales
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IM partnerships are more than rail partners. The capacity in this space is finite, but wins and improved service can be found with partnering with the right drayage operators. Smaller drayage operators in select markets can provide a great service advantage.

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4 Optimize your intermodal operations

Once you have chosen your intermodal partners, you need to optimize your intermodal operations. This means ensuring that your cargo is properly prepared, packaged, and loaded for intermodal transportation, and that it meets the safety and security standards of each mode of transportation. It also means tracking and monitoring your cargo throughout the intermodal journey, and resolving any issues or delays that may arise. You should also leverage technology, such as intermodal software, GPS, and RFID, to enhance your intermodal visibility, efficiency, and performance.

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W Terry Digby

VP of Sales
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Customers don’t want to hear “I don’t know”, they need answers. Providing them with the exact answer to the question they’re asking is essential. Advanced tech isn’t the only way to report information. If you don’t use tech to monitor operations; then team members need to be in sync and on point at all times to respond to customers needs.

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5 Monitor and improve your intermodal performance

Finally, you need to monitor and improve your intermodal performance. This means measuring and evaluating your intermodal outcomes, such as cost savings, service quality, customer satisfaction, and environmental impact. You should also collect and analyze data from your intermodal operations, such as transit times, on-time deliveries, damages, and claims. You should use this data to identify your intermodal strengths and weaknesses, and to implement continuous improvement strategies, such as process optimization, network optimization, and partner evaluation.

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W Terry Digby

VP of Sales
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"You can't improve what you don't measure" Collecting and analyzing data, and being honest about your performance is essential to reducing costs and improving service.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Jose Torres

Supply Chain Leader | Transformative | CoE | Continuous Improvement | Demand Planning | Inventory Optimization | MDM Governance | ERP - SCM - IBP - S&OP
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"Intermodal vs. OTR" is simple math "Time Sensitivity, OTR Capacity & Fuel Cost." If fuel is cheap and OTR capacity is high, most people will choose OTR. On the other hand, if your WH dock times are booked out for 5+ days, Intermodal is much more predictable. Your scheduling department will love Intermodal.

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What are the best strategies for intermodal transportation planning in the US?

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1 Identify your intermodal goals

2 Evaluate your intermodal options

3 Choose your intermodal partners

4 Optimize your intermodal operations

5 Monitor and improve your intermodal performance

6 Here’s what else to consider

Transportation Management

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What are the best strategies for intermodal transportation planning in the US?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Identify your intermodal goals

2 Evaluate your intermodal options

3 Choose your intermodal partners

4 Optimize your intermodal operations

5 Monitor and improve your intermodal performance

6 Here’s what else to consider

Transportation Management

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