The added value of intermodal transport for the logistical organization of enterprises

In order to face the strong competitions of globalization and internationalization, modern enterprises require high quality logistics services for their economic interests, production requisites and market changes to enhance their competitive positions. In accordance with the sustainable socio-economic developments, the enterprises should comply with the social rules and regulations that aim at reducing the society costs such as congestion, pollution, and environmental protection.

Intermodal transportation is an attractive solution for modern enterprises by offering economic, environmental friendly and door-to-door transport means that can easily be integrated into modern logistic chains. Making full use of the intermodal transport has become a strategic measure for many enterprises in their logistical organization, with many successful stories.

However, the tendency of implementing intermodal transport has not been recognized well by certain enterprises. Some barriers and bottlenecks block the proper integration and organization of intermodal logistical chains, which are indispensable for the logistics of enterprises. In order to optimize the structure of transport system and to help enterprises implement modern and innovative technologies, a study was carried out in Belgium, with the representative characteristics of Western Europe, to identify the potential of utilizing intermodal transport and to search for the bottlenecks that break the logistical chains. This study supplies the decision makers and the enterprises useful suggestions to improve the intermodal transport services and the intermodal traffic. This paper will introduce main concepts and methods of this important study.