Transport Modes Compared
Road, sea, air, rail and intermodal: which one, when?
Transport modes compared
The right transport mode depends on the type, value, urgency and destination of the cargo. The table below summarises the general trends.
| Mode | Hız | Cost-efficiency | Flexibility | Capacity | Eco-friendly | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | Door to door, flexible, medium distances |
| Sea | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | Large volume, low unit cost, long distance |
| Air | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | Urgent, valuable and sensitive cargo |
| Rail | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | High tonnage, long distance, predictable |
| Intermodal | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | Combines the advantages of the modes, without handling |
The scores are a general industry assessment (5 = highest). The actual situation varies with route, season, cargo and market conditions.
Intermodal, multimodal and combined transport
Intermodal
The same load unit (container, swap body, semi-trailer) moves by more than one mode without the cargo being handled.
Multimodal
More than one mode is carried out under a single contract of carriage and a single responsible operator.
Combined
The main leg is by rail, inland waterway or sea; the first and last road legs are kept short.
Which mode in which situation?
- If time is critical: air freight or road express service.
- Large volume, low cost: sea or rail.
- Door-to-door flexibility: road, especially in Europe and neighbouring regions.
- Balance of cost and environment over long distances: intermodal solutions.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the cheapest transport mode?
For large volumes, sea freight usually has the lowest unit cost; rail and intermodal solutions are also economical over long distances.
Which is the fastest transport mode?
Air is the fastest; over nearby regions, road express services also deliver in a short time.
Are intermodal and multimodal the same?
No. Intermodal is the carriage of the same load unit by different modes without handling; multimodal is carriage by several modes under a single contract and a single responsible operator.