Understanding Intermodal Route Setup

An intermodal route uses multiple modes of transportation or multiple carriers to transport finished goods and raw materials from a single origin to a single destination. You can use the Intermodal Detail Routing Entries Definition program (P49501) for rail shipments or to create an intermodal routing entry for any shipment that uses multiple modes of transportation.

To set up an intermodal route, you must first set up a parent route, which joins all of the intermediate stops or legs. Each intermediate stop is linked to the parent route by origin and destination information. Each leg within the parent route is linked as well.

For example, assume that you have a parent route between city A and city E. Between those cities are three additional cities to which you provide shipping services – city B, city C, and city D. You would set up an intermodal route and specify four legs in this way:

• Leg one has an origin of city A and a destination of city B.

• Leg two has an origin of city B and a destination of city C.

• Leg three has an origin of city C and a destination of city D.

• Leg four has an origin of city D and a destination of city E.

Each of the intermediate legs can have its own mode of transport, carriers, and so on.