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Coordination of Multimodal Transport | Freight-Academy™

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GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 23, 2026

Coordination of Multimodal Transport

Unlike unimodal transport, where a single mode covers the entire journey, coordination of multimodal transport combines two or more modes – ship, rail, truck, or air – under a single contractual responsibility, typically documented by a multimodal bill of lading.

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Unlike unimodal transport, where a single mode covers the entire journey, coordination of multimodal transport combines two or more modes – ship, rail, truck, or air – under a single contractual…

A freight forwarder or Multimodal Transport Operator (MTO) assumes end-to-end liability toward the shipper, regardless of which individual carrier caused a loss or delay.

Practical coordination covers hub selection, scheduling at each transfer point, and the allocation of costs and risks across all legs.

Last updated: 23 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimodal_transport

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Coordination of Multimodal Transport

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Definition & Explanation

Unlike unimodal transport, where a single mode covers the entire journey, coordination of multimodal transport combines two or more modes – ship, rail, truck, or air – under a single contractual responsibility, typically documented by a multimodal bill of lading. A freight forwarder or Multimodal Transport Operator (MTO) assumes end-to-end liability toward the shipper, regardless of which individual carrier caused a loss or delay. Practical coordination covers hub selection, scheduling at each transfer point, and the allocation of costs and risks across all legs. A standard example: containerized cargo moved by rail to a seaport, loaded onto a vessel for the ocean leg, then delivered by truck at destination. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with intermodal transport, though multimodal specifically emphasizes unified contractual responsibility across all modes.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Coordination of Multimodal Transport (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/coordination-of-multimodal-transport), accessed 2026-09-17
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2025). Coordination of Multimodal Transport. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/coordination-of-multimodal-transport
BibTeX: @misc{coordinationofmultimodal2025, title = {Coordination of Multimodal Transport}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/coordination-of-multimodal-transport}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-17} }

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