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Multimodal transport, which involves shipping a given unit of cargo – in a container, let’s say – on a route using different transport modes, is a popular logistics choice for businesses around the world. And with good reason: it offers clients many advantages.
Multimodal solutions are one of international transport and logistics service provider AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG’s key offerings that open new opportunities for its clients. Wojciech Wytrykowski, Europe Container Division Head at AsstrA, highlights:
“Multimodal transportation is about creating an effective mix of logistics products. Sea and rail transport offer safety, huge capacities, broad geographical coverage, and low costs. And road transport rounds out multimodal projects with quick first- and last-mile delivery.
AsstrA provides clients with comprehensive services supporting the organization of multimodal transportation that combine rail, sea, and road solutions. AsstrA clients without strict timing requirements typically use environmentally friendly rail and sea transport when shipping containers from export hubs like ports and stations.”
Undoubtedly, flexibilty is one of multimodal transportation’s most powerful advantages enjoyed by AsstrA clients. Generally, there are fewer constraints compared to road transport. The transport mode also offers huge available capacity, good cargo safety, low risk of thefts, and – most importantly – low transportation costs.
Wojciech Wytrykowski emphasizes that multimodal transportation to some extent overcomes the shortage of road transport drivers:
“Consider a simple example. A train has 40 containers, each accounting for 1/40th of the route’s total capacity. That means that we don’t need 40 drivers for those 40 containers – one train driver is enough. This is a powerful solution when there are a shortage of road transport drivers on the market. Obviously, road drivers will be needed for the first- and last-mile deliveries, but the shorter routes require much fewer resources.”
Multimodal transportation also delivers good bottom-line results. “Theoretically, the long-distance sea legs of multimodal transport project have the lowest cost per kilometer. However, in Poland it doesn’t always work that way. It is also necessary to consider legislation and the multimodal logistics provider’s operational model and cost base. In comparison to round trips, multimodal transportation is the most profitable in Germany, Belgium, and The Netherlands, where environmental priorities play a large part in transport companies’ operations and policies.
Consider whether you expect to gain immediate profits here and now or to develop a long-term strategy that will affect every transport and logistic market participant. In order to achieve such results – especially those connected with environmental protection – we must start changing the transport paradigm today. Multimodal transportation is a good way forward,” Wojciech Wytrykowski explains.