3.3. Logistics and intermodal transport

Logistics will influence the future development of intermodal transport, and yield both

opportunities and challenges. Service requirements are the major challenge to intermodal transport.

Logistics will lead to ever-stricter service requirements and an increasing number of small

consignments (Less Than Truckloads) -- a market which intermodal transport has lost almost

completely.

However, the increasing volume of freight flows, transported over longer distances, with better

planning and co-ordination possibilities of logistics activities through ICT, could result in increased

consolidation of consignments and improvement in the relative competitiveness of intermodal options.

Therefore, in order to comply with these strict service demands and to be able to compete with

road transport, intermodal transport needs sophisticated logistics concepts, using advanced information

systems.

3.4. Obstacles to intermodal transport

Since a key factor hindering the wider use of intermodal transport on shorter distances is the

substantial share of transhipment costs, one important aspect in intermodal efficiency is connection at

the nodal points. Facilities at nodes have to be standardised to provide efficient services, accessibility

to these nodes has to be developed or improved and transportation systems have to be integrated to

attain intermodality. The links which connect the nodal points to form the logistics network are most

effective when they appear to be seamless, i.e. facilitating transport with minimum interruption,

inconvenience and wasted time. Various obstacles to seamless intermodal transport exist in and

between Member countries (OECD, 2001).

3.4.1. Lack of physical and information infrastructure

The lack of terminals and missing links, or lack of infrastructure interoperability, often limits

transport services.

Intermodal freight transport service is provided mainly by the private sector. However, the

private sector cannot provide a fully seamless intermodal freight transport service without the essential

transport, ITS and telecommunications infrastructure framework supplied by governments.

In addition, to date little progress has been made in achieving compatibility for the tracking,

tracing and monitoring of intermodal transport flows, despite experiments undertaken in this field.

While the road transport sector continues to introduce real-time information systems that can report on

the status of any consignment being shipped to clients, intermodal transport has virtually nothing

comparable to offer. Punctual and reliable information is needed for intermodal operators and

ultimately for shippers.

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3.4.2. Lack of standardisation

There is a lack of standardisation of load units, information systems, administrative regulations

and procedures.

Adopting standard pallets and containers can facilitate efficient transfer and storage of

commodities. It will enhance economic and efficient interchangeability among different transport

modes, thereby serving to better co-ordinate services of more than one transport mode. Intermodal coordinated

services such as truck-rail, truck-ship, and truck-air aim to integrate the most advantageous

characteristics of each mode to achieve optimal performance. However, although the standardisation

of load units is essential to improve efficiency, it has proven to be difficult to achieve due to factors

such as infrastructure restrictions (changing loading/truck gauges), the preferences of road hauliers

and the increasing container sizes in maritime transport.

The application of advanced ICT has allowed significant improvements in the provision of

seamless service through the use of EDI. However, the success of EDI depends not only on

standardised data sets but also on compatible EDI systems between and among the intermodal players

and governments, which needs to be improved.

National regulations and procedures concerning intermodal transport are not harmonised. For

example, in Europe some countries provide exemptions to restrictions on weight and driving bans and

waive certain charges, while others do not. Also, government financial support of intermodal transport

differs considerably from country to country.

Customs formalities are one of the main barriers to achieving seamless changes across modes.

The advantages of standardised, automated and ICT-based interfaces are well understood. However,

ICT-based customs clearance has not yet been universally adopted. It is not clear how rapidly or how

extensively ICT will be adopted by authorities in different countries for the smooth operation of

custom formalities.