Intermodal shipping is when freight is transported across several modes. There are different intermodal stations where trailers are dropped off via rail or ships, these stations are usually located in major cities. Trucks pick up the trailers and deliver them to their final destination (usually within 100 miles of the storage yard).
When planning out your intermodal delivery be sure to be prepared to supply the pickup and drop-off locations, weight, and commodity. Additionally, it is important to give the desired transit time, especially if you need the freight delivered by a deadline.
Intermodal is typically considered cost-effective when the total shipment is traveling more than 800 miles and the final destination point is within 100 miles of the shipping yard. Additionally, intermodal is great when time is not a vital factor since all that time spent loading and unloading from one mode to another do add up.