Freigth systems

Omar Beltran
CIV E 481
Prof. Lima Kopitch

Intermodal Freight Transportation
Introduction
The word intermodal transportation started to be used back in the 1970’s, when the first efficientchains of transportation were built, with the use of different modes that have trucking stretches combined with transportation by railroad and or inland water navigation ways, it was then when thetransportation of containers either by train or ships commenced to be used on a grand scale. In the same way, the word intermodal freight transportation began to be used in Europe. Intermodal freighttransportation involves the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation, without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes. The methodreduces costs over road handling, and so improves security, reduces damages, and losses, and allows freight to be transported faster.
Background
At first intermodal transportation was inefficientbecause the handling of its cargo was handled by hand, package by package, there was a high operation cost, and there were many damages to the cargo, the coordination between successive transports washard, high cost of storage and time lost. However, with the time and the appearance of the container changed all that. Intermodal freight transportation is not only by containers, but also opencargo, however the majority of it is done by containers. Some of the advantages of the container are the transfer between modes of transportation. Also the use of the containers reduced totaltransportation cost, first on the sea and then on land. In addition, thanks to the container the transportation circuit cost was greatly reduced.
Analysis
Intermodal transportation objectives are the following:* To reduce transportation costs
* To reduce the social and environmental negatives impacts on society
* To make a common front to the economic growth and globalization
By optimizing...