Topic 16: Intermodal and Special Carriers

Special carrier is some of these carriers could be classified as air carries or trucking companies, however they provided some value added services not provided by the basic modal carrier. These value added services not shipper through freight cost savings or service improvements that lowered the shipper’s or buyer inventory cost. It will transport for high demand high value added. For example, gold they can more security for protect their product. They have air freight forwarders, freight brokers and shipper association. Air freight forwarders are consolidating small shipment for long haul and eventual distribution. Freight brokers are the middlemen between the shippers. Shipper association is the member firms. The benefit is through the better services and lower total transportation cost.

Inter modal is involves the use two or more mode transportation in moving shipment from one origin to the destination. For example Malaysia to China. Malaysia sends a product by water after arrived at China the supplier can use the other transportation to easy send to the customer by truck. They have 3 owner operators, express services and dragged carrier. Owner operators is the term operators was traditionally applied to a person who owned or leased the truck and often a trailer and made his or her equipment and driving services available to for hire carrier. An express service is for example FEDEX, UBS. The company provided their services. Fast delivery and no make more time to send for the one product. Dragged carriers are motor carriers that provided pickup and delivery services in the local metropolitan area, piggyback ramps area or container area.

Containerization is nothing more than a big box into which the freight is loaded; improve the efficiency of interchange among modes. Basic size for one container is length from 28 to 53 feet. They have advantages and disadvantages for the use container. A first advantage is safety; the product can be more protection from bad weather. Minimize handling and design by steel. Second, save cost; minimize handling, consolidate freight and fully utilize. Third, goods can be carried more easily. Four, temporary is not for rent warehouses.  Five is flexibilities; interchanges mode (water, rail, road), standard dimension, loaded into container become 1 unit. Lastly, high security is have a seal and able to trace.