How can rail transport and road transportation be combined cost-effectively?

The cost-effective integration of rail and road transport is based on leveraging the strengths of both transport modes within the same supply chain. Intermodal transportation reduces costs over longer distances, decreases carbon footprint, and improves transport reliability. Optimal integration requires careful planning, appropriate technology, and expert coordination, which enable goods to transition smoothly from one transport mode to another.

What are the most significant benefits of combining rail and road transport?

The most significant benefits of combining rail and road transport are cost-efficiency, environmental friendliness, and delivery reliability. Over longer distances, rail transport is considerably more economical, while truck transport offers flexibility for the last mile.

Container shipping particularly benefits from an intermodal approach. When containers travel long distances energy-efficiently by rail and switch to roads only for short final legs, significant cost savings can be achieved. Transporting large volumes of goods by rail also reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 75% compared to road transport alone.

We offer our customers tailored intermodal transport solutions that combine the cost-efficiency of rail transport with the flexibility of road transport. This enables optimization of the logistics chain as a whole, improving delivery reliability while reducing overall costs.

How to design an optimal combined transport chain?

Designing an optimal combined transport chain begins with a comprehensive analysis of the goods to be transported, destinations, and schedule requirements. First, critical points where goods transfer between transport modes are identified, along with suitable terminals.

An efficient intermodal transport chain requires careful planning:

Identifying logistics nodes and selecting terminals
Coordinating schedules between different transport modes
Optimizing cargo handling at transfer points
Integrating tracking systems throughout the entire chain

Our experts help identify the most suitable routes and transport modes, taking into account cargo volumes, distances, and schedules. Container shipping particularly benefits from careful planning that considers the availability of container handling equipment at transfer points and storage options at terminals.

In which situations are combined transports the most cost-effective option?

Combined transports are particularly cost-effective for distances over 300 kilometers, when transport volumes are large and schedules have flexibility. Rail transport becomes more economical the longer the distance and the greater the volume of goods transported.

Container shipping is excellently suited for intermodal transport because containers are easy to transfer between transport modes. Regular, predictable cargo flows enable efficient utilization of rail capacity, which is when cost benefits are most significant.

We offer cost-effective combined transport solutions especially for:

Industrial raw material transports
Export container shipments to ports
Regular deliveries from central warehouses to regional distribution centers
Retail supply chains

What technological solutions are needed for efficient integration of rail and road transport?

Efficient intermodal transport requires seamless information exchange and advanced cargo handling technology. A real-time tracking system enables precise shipment location monitoring and quick response to changes.

Key technological solutions include:

Digital transport management systems (TMS)
Cargo handling equipment and automation in terminals
IoT sensors for tracking containers and shipments
Interfaces between different operators’ systems

We provide our customers with modern digital tools that keep the entire supply chain visible and manageable. Our system enables real-time tracking of containers and shipments, improving delivery reliability and allowing quick responses to changing situations.

Optimizing an intermodal transport chain requires both technological expertise and practical experience. We help our customers combine the best aspects of rail and road transport into a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solution that serves their business needs.