Transhipment Use Transfer Facilities - Intermodal Terminal Functionality
Subsystem Description
The Intermodal Terminal subsystem represents the terminal areas corresponding to modal change points. This would include any interfaces between roadway freight transportation and air, rail, and/or water shipping modes. The basic unit of cargo handled by the Intermodal Terminal subsystem is the container; less-than-container load handling will typically be handled at a different facility (e.g. Freight Consolidation Station). The Intermodal Terminal subsystem is responsible for efficiently handling the movement of freight containers between transport modes. This can include electronic gate control for entrance and exit from the facility, automated guidance of vehicles within the facility, alerting appropriate parties of container arrivals and departures, and inventory and location of temporarily stored containers. The subsystem also provides support for customs agencies to perform their functions, where international cargo may be handled. The Intermodal Terminal subsystem may also implement weigh-in-motion and other commercial vehicle inspection capabilities to ensure that commercial vehicle – chassis – container assemblages that leave the facility are roadworthy. The Intermodal Terminal subsystem can support security functionality both to secure containers and to prevent unauthorised personnel or vehicles from violating the facilities.