Glossary
What is multimodal transport?
Multimodal transport is the carriage of goods by two or more modes sea, road, rail or air under a single contract, with one operator taking responsibility for the whole journey from start to finish. |
What is the difference between intermodal and multimodal transport?
Both use more than one mode. The difference is the contract. Multimodal transport runs on one contract with one operator liable end to end. Intermodal transport uses a separate contract for each leg, so liability sits with whichever carrier held the goods when something went wrong. Multimodal transportation is simpler to claim against; intermodal can be cheaper to buy.
How multimodal transport works
- A multimodal transport operator issues one document covering every leg
- The goods normally stay in the same container throughout, avoiding rehandling
- The operator subcontracts the actual carriage but keeps the liability
- Customs transit procedures keep goods under control between legs
The customs angle
Multimodal movements often cross a border mid-journey, so goods travel under transit rather than clearing at each leg. The transit paperwork matters more here than in single-mode shipping one break in the chain can strand a container at an inland border with no obvious owner of the problem.
iCustoms keeps transit and clearance documentation aligned across every leg of a multimodal movement. |
