Combined transportation plays an important role in today's rapidly changing trade dynamics. With globalization, trade networks have expanded and sourcing from many different regions has begun. Developing transportation options facilitate the delivery of products to the market and support the implementation of global marketing strategies. Combined transportation brings together different modes of transport, offering more efficient and economical solutions; thus, companies gain a competitive advantage in the global market. Especially, the integration of different transportation methods shortens transit times and reduces costs.
What Is Combined Transportation?
Traditional transportation methods generally occur in three main forms: sea freight, road freight, and air freight. Combined transportation, however, differs from classical transportation by offering a system that combines multiple transportation options. The use of various modes of transport together enables more effective and economical transportation of goods.
Multimodal transportation has become one of the fundamental elements of international trade with many advantages. As a result, the transportation process becomes faster and more reliable, while costs decrease significantly. It is especially preferred when large volumes of goods need to be transported.
You can visit our page for more information about Air Freight services
What Is the Most Important Feature of Combined Transportation?
Combined transportation means delivering a product from its starting point to the destination using at least two different transportation methods. It typically involves combining various modes such as land, sea, rail, and air. This allows products to reach their destinations more quickly and efficiently. The most distinctive feature of combined transportation is that the entire transportation process is carried out by a single company.
The main company handles the transportation without having to deal with various subcontractors. This minimizes time loss and communication problems. It offers cost efficiency to businesses while also increasing customer satisfaction.
What Are the Advantages of Combined Transportation?
Combined transportation offers efficiency and cost advantages achieved by using different modes of transport together. Especially when combining sea and land routes, the transfer of goods and cargo can be performed much faster and more effectively. Cargoes are loaded onto special ships called Roll On Roll Off (Ro-Ro) vessels for sea transport. These ships facilitate easier transportation of goods to ports accessible by road. As a result, the time between the cargo reaching the port and being loaded onto the ship is minimized.
Another combination involves using rail and road. Cargoes are transported via certain transfer points. This method, called Rollende Landstrasse, is very suitable for transferring goods arriving by rail to the road network. The transfer process at the station during the transition from rail to road speeds up the transportation process. This makes it easier for cargoes to reach their destinations.
Especially for goods sent from one region of Turkey to a European country, the combination of road and sea routes offers significant advantages. Products transported by truck are loaded onto ships using auxiliary equipment such as wheeled ramps after reaching the designated port by road. The sea transportation phase is thus initiated. When the cargo arrives at the target port, it is unloaded from the ship with similar auxiliary equipment and delivered to the recipient company.
What Are the Types of Combined Transportation?
Types of combined transportation can be divided into two main categories. One of these is intermodal transportation, and the other is multimodal transportation. These two types of transportation share similar features but also have many different characteristics that give them different names.
What Is Intermodal Transportation?
The most distinctive feature of intermodal transportation is that it is carried out using containers. In this type of combined transportation, goods and cargo are transported via containers without being removed from them at their current locations. Large equipment such as cranes or auxiliary tools like ramps can be used in transfer processes involving containers. If the cargo weight is high, cranes are preferred; for lighter loads, other auxiliary equipment is used. In this transportation method, cargoes are moved without being removed from containers, which does not reduce the number of goods. This can be considered a cost-reducing factor. Intermodal transportation requires certain contracts. When the logistics company properly arranges these contracts, the transportation occurs quickly and saves time. In combined shipping operations, various carriers perform each step. This transportation method is described as a combination of sea and land routes.
What Is Multimodal Transportation?
In the field of freight transportation, multimodal transportation, or multi-modal transportation, refers to the use of different transportation methods to deliver goods to their final destinations. These methods can include land or sea routes. The main goal is to minimize transportation costs and delivery times. This form of transportation requires meticulous and careful logistics planning for both short and long-distance shipments. Multimodal transportation can also be applied at the local level. However, the primary purpose of this transportation concept is to maximize benefits from various sources worldwide. Choosing this logistics type can also encourage reaching new and developing markets. Multimodal transportation should not be confused with intermodal transportation. Although both systems share similar features and principles, there are differences. In multimodal transportation, more than one transportation vehicle and method are used. The most important difference that sets this apart from intermodal transportation is the number of transportation contracts. While intermodal transportation requires multiple contracts, multimodal transportation can be completed with a single contract. Additionally, unlike intermodal transportation, in multimodal transportation, a single party is responsible for all transportation processes. Unlike the limited (land-sea) combinations in intermodal transportation, multimodal transportation can be carried out with various combinations. These combinations are determined with attention to reducing costs, ensuring a fast and effective transportation process, and preventing damage to the goods.
When choosing among combined transportation alternatives, some considerations should be taken into account. Correctly determining the method prevents problems during transportation processes. First, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of the products or cargo to be transported. Some products may be affected by temperature changes or general weather conditions. Therefore, how these products will be packaged, protected, and how long they will be transported should be predetermined. After taking the necessary steps to protect the products, the transportation routes to be used should be decided. In combinations involving sea, rail, road, or air routes, the first consideration is to complete the necessary documentation for transporting the products via these routes. To ensure these processes are carried out correctly, working with a reputable logistics company in the sector would be appropriate.
You might be interested: What Is Cross Shipping? What Are Its Advantages?
