Which term refers to shipments moved by different types of equipment combining the best features of each mode?

• A. Multimodal transport
• B. Intermodal transport
• C. Air-ocean shipping
• D. Pipeline transport

Answer: (B)

Intermodal transport refers to moving a shipment using more than one mode of transportation while keeping the cargo in a single unit that can be transferred between trucks, trains, ships, or airplanes. This setup lets you combine the strengths of each mode: speed where needed with air, cost efficiency for long-haul movement with ocean or rail, and flexible final delivery with trucks. By coordinating multiple modes, you can optimize overall delivery time, cost, and reliability, often under a single contract or bill of lading. The other options describe either a specific two-mode pairing (air and ocean) or a single mode (pipeline), which don’t capture the broad idea of using different types of equipment across multiple modes.