FCL AND LCL
As an FMC licensed OTI (NVOCC and Freight Forwarder) since 1974, depending on your type of request, we have full-service ocean freight (also known as sea freight) services for both Imports & Exports
WHAT IS INTERMODAL?
Multimodal transport (also known as combined transport) is the transportation of goods under a single contract, but performed with at least two different means of transport; the carrier is liable (in a legal sense) for the entire carriage, even though it is performed by several different modes of transport (by rail, sea and road, for example). The carrier does not have to possess all the means of transport, and in practice usually does not; the carriage is often performed by sub-carriers (referred to in legal language as “actual carriers”). The carrier responsible for the entire carriage is referred to as a multimodal transport operator, or MTO.
Shipit Logistics delivers fast, flexible, and dependable global ocean freight solutions through its specialized FCL (Full Container Load) and LCL (Less than Container Load) services. As an FMCālicensed NVOCC and freight forwarder with over five decades of industry experience, Shipit provides endātoāend ocean shipping support for businesses of all sizes.
Whether you're moving full container loads or sharing space via consolidated shipments, Shipit’s worldwide agent network ensures seamless doorātoādoor transport for commercial cargo of all types—including hazardous materials across multiple DG classes. Their expertise spans cargo categories from machinery and construction equipment to consumer goods, ensuring each shipment is handled with precision and compliance.
This page also educates shippers on navigating intermodal vs. multimodal options, empowering them to choose the most efficient and cost-effective logistics structure for their supply chain. With Shipit's commitment to reliability, safety, and proactive customer service, businesses gain a trusted partner capable of managing the complexities of international freight from origin to final destination.
WHAT IS MULTIMODAL?
Intermodal freight transport lets your cargo move smoothly across rail, ship, and truck in a single sealed container—no unloading, no reāhandling, no delays. This streamlined approach boosts security, cuts the risk of damage or loss, and helps your freight move faster and more efficiently. Plus, for longādistance and interācontinental moves, intermodal shipping can deliver significant cost savings compared to roadāonly transport—while still keeping your supply chain running reliably endātoāend.
HOW TO CHOOSE
The major difference between Multimodal and Intermodal is the number of contracts the shipper has with various service providers.
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In a Multimodal Shipment, the shipper has one contract of carriage, which covers all modes of transport from origin to destination, whether that is a door-to-port, port-to-door or door-to-door. This equates to one carrier for a one journey. This contract of carriage is with 1 carrier, whether that is a steamship line or international freight forwarder/NVOCC. The steamship line/ocean carrier or international freight forwarder/NVOCC issues a Combined Transport Bill of Lading or a Multimodal Bill of Lading.
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Benefits: the shipper can hold the one carrier liable for movement should an issue arise, getting tracking and tracing updates is from one carrier and efficiency in delivery times can be met.
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In an Intermodal Shipment, the shipper has multiple contracts, 1 with a freight forwarder or ocean carrier, another with a trucker or trucker and rail carrier in origin country and another with a trucker or trucker and trail carrier in the destination country. The carrier issues a Port to Port Bill of Lading each additional carrier involved in the shipment issues their own shipping document such as a Bill of Lading for Domestic Transport or Rail to the shipper.
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Benefits: the ability to select your own carriers based on price or service for each leg of the shipment, the ability to stop the shipment at a certain point for any reason since you control each leg, and more agility on carrier selection if there are equipment or space issues with carriers.
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The decision of why you choose one mode vs another depends on several factors such as whether the shipper wants to have multiple independent contracts with multiple carriers, the total cost difference between both options, how it affects inventory turns and costs, the time savings involved in each mode for both transportation of the cargo and administrative coordination, the environmental impact of one mode over another, and how it alters or affects the paperwork involved in the shipment.
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