Intermodal transportation offers solutions for a wide variety of freight types, with a wide variety of benefits. But this domestic freight mode is vastly underused compared to trucks. On Episode 45 of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast, Team InTek (President Shelli Austin and CEO Rick LaGore) discusses how surprisingly simple it is for shippers to bring intermodal into their strategy.
Rick and Shelli go over the advantages intermodal offers - including cost, capacity and a lower carbon footprint - as well as what makes a good intermodal lane. They also go over transit times, typical intermodal savings versus truckload, and how the experience of working with an intermodal marketing company (IMC) feels for a shipper.
Then, we go step-by-step, from researching a provider, determining freight fit, finding which lanes are best for intermodal, blocking and bracing, fees and accessorials, and finally, sending your first load via intermodal. It's a process that sounds complicated but can be quite simple for the shipper - and freight can be traveling on the road plus rail combination in just a day or two.
If you're looking to learn more about getting started with intermodal, we have plenty of resources to help. For one, go to our intermodal service page. And for more (free) research, we're partial to our quite comprehensive Complete Guide to Intermodal Transportation.
Watch this episode to see host Kevin Baxter talk intermodal with Rick and Shelli on YouTube, where you can also check out our playlist for our 44 previous podcasts.
If listening is more your thing, simply hit play above or head over to Apple, Spotify, or whatever your favorite podcasting platform may be - and we'll be there.
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