Multimodal transport facts for kids

Multimodal transport is a smart way to move goods using at least two different types of transport. Think of it like a journey where your package travels by truck, then a ship, and finally a train, all to reach its destination. Even though many different vehicles are used, there's just one main company in charge. This company makes sure your goods get from the start to the end safely.

This main company is called a Multimodal Transport Operator, or MTO for short. They don't own all the trucks, ships, or trains themselves. Instead, they work with other transport companies to get the job done. The MTO is responsible for the entire trip, from when they pick up the goods until they deliver them.

How Multimodal Transport Works

In the past, if you wanted to send goods, you might have to arrange each part of the journey yourself. For example, you'd find a truck for the first part, then a ship, and then another truck. With multimodal transport, one company handles everything for you. This is often called "door-to-door" service.

Many freight forwarders, which are companies that help organize shipments, have become MTOs. They take on the big job of making sure your goods travel smoothly. Large shipping companies that own big cargo ships also act as MTOs. They can pick up goods from a factory far inland, put them on a ship, and then deliver them to a store far inland in another country.

Sometimes, an MTO might not own any ships, even if the goods travel across the ocean. These companies are called Non-Vessel Operating Carriers, or NVOCs. They still manage the whole journey, even if they don't own the big ships.

The Container Revolution

Multimodal transport really grew popular in the 1960s and 1970s. This was thanks to something called the "container revolution." Before this, goods were loaded piece by piece onto ships. This was slow and often led to damage.

Then came shipping containers! These are big, strong metal boxes that can be easily moved between trucks, trains, and ships. They made it much faster and safer to transfer goods. Today, most multimodal transport uses these containers. But remember, multimodal transport isn't only about containers. You can still move goods in other ways using different transport types. The main idea is having one company manage the whole trip.

Researching Multimodal Transport

Many groups are studying how to make multimodal transport even better. Governments, businesses, and universities are all involved. For example, in the United States, the Department of Transportation looks into new ideas. In Europe, the European Commission also invests a lot in research projects. They want to find ways to make transport faster, cheaper, and more eco-friendly.

Rules for Multimodal Transport

Moving goods across different countries and using different transport types can be tricky. Each type of transport, like shipping by sea or by rail, often has its own set of rules. These rules decide who is responsible if something goes wrong, like if goods get damaged.

To solve this, there's a system called the "network principle." This means that the different rules for each transport type still apply. If goods are damaged on the ship, the rules for sea transport are used. If they are damaged on the train, the train rules apply. This helps figure out who is responsible and how much they might have to pay if there's a problem.

See also

In Spanish: Transporte multimodal para niños

• Intermodal freight transport
• Intermodal passenger transport