New report examines ways to spur intermodal infrastructure

The role and concept of intermodal transportation—as it relates to the entire freight transportation network in the United States—is one which is an “orphan with no country,” according to Theodore Prince, principal consultant for T. Prince and Associates LLC, and Thomas L. Finkbiner, chairman

At a press conference at the Transcomp conference hosted by the National Industrial Transportation League, the Intermodal Association of North America, and the Transportation Intermediaries Association in Atlanta earlier this month, Prince and Finkbiner presented the findings of their report entitled “Leveraging the Freight Network: 10 Steps to Improved Modal Connectivity.”

The report takes a detailed look at what needs to happen for intermodal to take a more prominent seat at the freight transportation table, explaining various ways in which intermodal can make a meaningful difference during a time in which shippers and carriers are faced with limited infrastructure challenges, rising gas and energy prices, and a declining economy, among other factors. The report’s research was based on roughly 180 questionnaires and 40 in-person interviews with transportation CEOs and principal officers to discuss surface transportation issues. The report was sponsored by the National Center for Intermodal Transportation and the Foundation for Intermodal Research and Education.

Another challenge intermodal—and freight transportation in general—faces is the lack of a national focus on the myriad transportation issues the U.S. is up against, according to Finkbiner.

“There is not going to be a national debate on surface transportation in an election year,” he said. “That is a sad thing, because if you look at the amount of money involved and the estimates of up to $1.6 trillion needed to fix our freight transportation infrastructure, it rivals things like Social Security and healthcare costs. And when you look at what is actually being proposed for transportation funding compared to what is needed, it is clear there is a massive disconnect in transportation policy. ”

While infrastructure for trucking and rail get categorized based on reports and analyses for their respective industries, Finkbiner explained—and the report’s results confirmed— that intermodal is more like an “orphan” mode with no constituency, because everyone is an intermodal constituent.

Source: Logistics Management