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Common Recognition
concerning Intermodal Transport
(Cargo Transport)
FINAL REPORT
INTRODUCTION
The first meeting
of the Intermodal Task Force(ITF) was held in October, 1997, at Chinese Taipei, in
conjunction with TPT WG-12. At this meeting, participants adopted the Mission Statement,
Goals and Objectives and Action program for the Task force.
ITF also identified
High Priority Tasks in the Action Program, and it was agreed that Japan would take on
Tasks 1&2, under Objective 1. These tasks were;
Objective #1, Task
1
Identify key
findings of the Congestion Points Study which highlight areas where work is required in
order to achieve improvements in the intermodal transportation system in the region.
Objective #1, Task
2
Task each economy
to identify obstacles to intermodality(e.g. pallet size, container size, truck weight,
rail links)that might be overcome by the application of international(e.g. ISO standards),
and the major challenge to implementing those standards. The ITF would identify solutions
to those obstacles and each economy would strive to implement the solutions.
At the 2nd ITF
meeting held at Mexico city in April 1998, Japan, as a lead economy, presented an action
program concerning the two tasks. As for Task 1, Japan presented the key findings of the
Congestion Points Study in order to achieve improvements in the intermodal transportation
system and congestion points in the Asia-Pacific area. As for Task 2, it was decided that
Japan would draft a questionnaire(Appendix A) which asks each economy to identify
obstacles to intermodality and solutions to those obstacles.
The questionnaire
was distributed to the ITF member economies and 8 economies( USA, Canada, Australia,
Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan) responded.
This survey is
based upon the answers to the questionnaire. It aims to identify the main obstacles to
intermodality and solutions to these obstacles, by bringing together the points raised by
many of the economies which answered the questionnaire. It is hoped that this will present
a basis for considering policies to improve intermodal transportation systems within and
among APEC economies.
(1) Impediments to smooth and
efficient intermodal transport
Congestion on
truck routes from / to ports / airports
Delays in customs
procedures
Where rail
facilitates are present, infrastructure is insufficient to handle required freight ( ex.
track weight, terminal capacity )
Lack of cooperation
/ coordination in planning between tiers of government and relevant planning authorities.
(2) The cause of
each intermodal problem indicated in (1) above
The capacity of
road systems connecting ports is limited, but the modal share of roads is absolutely high.
The customs
procedure is complicated, and there is a lack of coordination between customs and other
agencies involved in cargo clearance.
The capacity of the
rail system is mainly occupied by passenger trains.
There are few
incentives for coordinated planning and decision making, and also poor understanding at
local and state levels.
(3)Actions /
steps to address each problem indicated in (2) above
Expansion of
the road systems, and improvements in truck tracking technology and telecommunications for
better scheduling and management of peak flows.
Extending
customs working hours, simplifying the customs procedures and promoting the EDI system.
To promote the
building and operation of cargo terminals to private investors.
Intermodal Freight
Working groups comprising personnel from different tiers and sections to coordinate the
various intermodal freight activities.
(4)Major obstacles in implementing
the standards such as ISO, IATA, EDI
Industry standards
have evolved where there is a commercial benefit.
Cost and efficiency
issues for individual operators within industries.
Ignoring the
importance of the private sector.
Some companies
consider the staff training for implementation of these standards as an obstacle.
(5)Obstacles that impede the smooth
or seamless connections where passenger and cargo operations overlap
The passenger and
cargo transportation systems operate separately in many countries.
Long distance
container trains use the same tracks as urban passenger trains.
During peak hours,
passenger trains are given priority, causing delays to freight services.
(4)The measures implemented in each
economy to address efficiency / facilitation of intermodal transport
Legislation in its
focus on freight and intermodal transportation and port access issues.
Deregulation of
road mass limits.
Training programs
and courses for the personnel engaged in the industries organized by the relevant
organizations.
Financial support
for facilitates and machines useful for intermodal transportation.
Infrastructure
planned in conjunction with both residential and industrial users.
APPENDIX A
Intermodal
Questionnaire
(Cargo Transport)
1. What are the top five most acute
represent impediments to smooth and efficient intermodal transport in your economy ?
Please prioritize following impediments and indicate by filling priority numbers ( from 1
to 5 ) in " " below.
Truck queuing at port / airport
Congestion on Truck routes from /
to port /airport
Limited hours trucks are able to
load freight at port /airport
Limited opening hours of businesses
consigning or receiving freight
Delays in customs procedures
Infrastructure of port / airport
insufficient to cope with demand
Lack of rail (on-dock) facilitates
Where rail facilitates present,
infrastructure is insufficient to handle required freight (eg. Track weight, terminal
capacity)
Lack of cooperation / coordination
in planning between tiers of government and relevant planning authorities
Lack of knowledge of new
technologies;or delays in implementing new technologies
Non-punctual arrival of trains/
planes / ships
Others - please specify ( ?
2. Please identify the cause of the
each intermodal problems indicated in (1) above.
1.
____________________________________________
2.
____________________________________________
3.
____________________________________________
4.
____________________________________________
5.
____________________________________________
3. What actions / steps (if any)
are being taken in your economy to address each problems indicated in (2) above?
1.
____________________________________________
2.
____________________________________________
3.
____________________________________________
4.
____________________________________________
5.
____________________________________________
4. Please indicate by an " X
" or tick mark " " which international standard(s)
your
economy and organizations / businesses within your economy currently use and specify how
these standards are applied to the intermodal transport industry:
ISO
(i)Please specify how these
standards are applied to the intermodal transport industry.
____________________________________________
(ii) Please indicate the ISO number
used for containers, rail gauges, or other.
Containers:
Rail gauges:
Other-please specify (
):
(iii)Are containers transported in
your economy which do not comply with ISO standards? What proportion of the containerized
trade is carried in these containers?
____________________________________________
IATA (International Air Transport
Association)
- Please specify how these standards
are applied to the intermodal transport
industry.
____________________________________________
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
- Please specify the standards (Such
as UN-EDIFACT, Cargo IMP, etc. ) which
is applied in your economy.
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Domestic
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International |
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Transport
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Transport
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Other-Please specify:
- Please specify how these standards
are applied to the intermodal transport industry.
____________________________________________
(2)Concerning these standards
indicated in (1) above, what (if any) are major obstacles to implementing them in your
economy? (i.e. financial, incompatible technology, or other?)
3.Please provide us with
informations if available on the following intermodal transport related matters in your
economy.
(1) The sizes of pallets and their
share presently in circulation
____________________________________________
(2) The sizes of containers
currently in use and their share
____________________________________________
(3) Truck weight allowed on
highways and other roads.
____________________________________________
(4) The existence of on-dock rail
links to ports in the major ports ((i)The number of major ports where on-dock rail links
exist,(ii) proportion of containerized trade transported to or from the major ports by
rail, (iii) proportion of containerized trade transported to or from the major ports by
road, and so on.)
____________________________________________
(5)The existence of intermodal
waterway / barge links to a port (The Rhine river come to mind.)
____________________________________________
(6)Areas of transport operation
currently using new technologies (such as EDI in freight identification or customs
procedures, slot management systems for trucks queuing at ports, technologically-advanced
cranes, and so on)
(7) Any other intermodal transport
matters relating to your economy (please specify )
____________________________________________
4. Please provide
us with information on any obstacles that impede the smooth or seamless connections where
passenger and cargo operations overlap.
____________________________________________
5. Is there an intermodal transport
agency or authority in your economy?
If a specific agency or authority
exists to handle intermodal transport within your economy, please indicate it to the
division level.
____________________________________________
6. Which measures, if any, has your
economy implemented to address efficiency / facilitation of intermodal transport, and can
these measures be evaluated yet as being successful or not ?
This page was last updated on 12 March, 2008
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