intermodal

The term “intermodal” has been used in many applications that include passenger transportation and the containerization of freight. Intermodal freight transport is defined as the use of two or more modes to move a shipment from origin to destination. An intermodal movement involves the physical infrastructure, goods movement and transfer, and information drivers and capabilities under a single freight bill. (http://www.railway-technical.com/intermo.shtml)

From my own understanding, there are four important points in the definition. First, during the door-to-door transportation, freight is put in standarized containers. Second, there are two or more than two modes of tranportation in the process. Third, there should be a manager who takes care of the whole chain of transportation even thought the freight goes through the hands of several companies. What's more, a customer will only be charged once by that manager, not several times by different companies.