CPIM Practice Exam

What characterizes intermodal transport?

1. Shipments moved solely by road vehicles

2. Using different types of equipment to optimize transport

3. Transportation methods only within a single mode

4. Direct transportation from origin to destination

The correct answer is: Using different types of equipment to optimize transport

Intermodal transport is characterized by using multiple modes of transportation to move goods, taking advantage of the strengths of each mode. This approach allows for increased efficiency, optimization of costs, and better flexibility in logistics. By combining different types of equipment, such as trains, trucks, and ships, intermodal transport can handle different cargo sizes, distances, and delivery requirements more effectively. This method also helps in managing environmental impacts and reducing transit times by selecting the most suitable transport option for each leg of the journey. The other options do not accurately describe intermodal transport. Solely using road vehicles limits the potential efficiencies gained by integrating different transport methods. The notion of transportation methods only within a single mode contradicts the very essence of intermodal logistics. Lastly, direct transportation from origin to destination does not reflect intermodal transport's characteristic of multiple handling stages and transfers between different types of transport as necessary.