Intermodal Logistics

Intermodal Logistics
QUESTION: What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of intermodal logistics parks? Be sure to make a good argument for your position.

1) What is your opinion on MANUEL's ANSWER to the Question below? Be sure to make a good argument for your position and support your response with evidence from a resource.

MANUEL's ANSWER:

Intermodal Transportation is the type of international freight system that permits trans-shipping amongst sea, highway, rail, and air modes of transportation. Some of the disadvantages are lack of capabilities for goods coming via some unanticipated means to arrive. If the company in charge of the logistical park only wants one type of transportation to deliver a type of good ASAP and to have the majority of what they receive be that good it could cause a dilemma.

2) What is your opinion on KELLY's ANSWER to the Question above? Be sure to make a good argument for your position and support your response with evidence from a resource.

KELLY's ANSWER:

Jeff Vielhaber (2012) explains intermodal as, "One of the top five logistic trends impacting the transportation industry today is intermodal transportation. For the past couple of years, we've been hit with driver shortages, increased demand, shrinking truck capacity and increased fuel prices. This is forcing shippers who would otherwise refrain from using multiple modes of transportation to rethink their logistic strategies."

Intermodal involves the use of more than one mode of transportation. Intermodal logistics parks are set up to accommodate different transportation needs for the customer. Many times freight requires more than one mode of transportation to complete the process. Just a few examples of different shipment requirement needs are hazardous materials; shelf life needing refrigerated vans, small loads vs. large loads, and chemical transportation needs. Intermodal logistics parks help simplify your supply chain management with a one stop shop for transporting needs; time and money can also be saved by using intermodal logistics parks. At the same time intermodal can save money it can also be costly depending on the location availability and transporting needs. There is also a lack of communication in some cases and long idle times where shipments can be held up.

Depending on businesses need the intermodal method for transporting can be costly or can save a business a bunch of money.

Reference:

Transportation Talk (2012). Advantages of Intermodal Transportation. Retrieved December 12, 2014. From: http://blog.tts-us.com/index.php/advantages-of-intermodal-transportation/

Intermodal Freight Transportation Advantages and Disadvantages (2012). Retrieved December 12, 2013. From: http://freightbrokerscourse.com/blog/intermodal-freight-transportation-advantages-and-disadvantages/