SCHNEIDER IT-200 Intermodal Integrator Instruction Manual

IT-200 Intermodal Integrator

Specifications:

• Transportation Mode: Intermodal (Rail and Road)
• Optimal Conditions for Usage:
  • Freight moves 300 miles or more
  • Loads go to the same metro location consistently
  • Shippers are within 250 miles from a rail ramp
  • Loads are heavy, up to 46,000 pounds
  • Secure cross-border transportation is required

Product Usage Instructions:

Why You Should Consider Intermodal:

Intermodal transportation combines rail and road for freight
optimization and diversification. It is cost-effective for
long-distance moves, heavy loads, and secure cross-border
transportation needs.

Integrating Intermodal into Your Long-Term Strategy:

1. Establish a strategic plan with an asset-based intermodal
provider for guaranteed capacity and supply chain optimization.

2. Look for providers offering promotion pricing contracts
renewed every three months for short-term stability and flexibility
in pricing.

Making the Most of Your Intermodal Moves:

1. Choose an intermodal provider carefully based on their
services, pricing, and track record.

2. Optimize your shipping strategy by diversifying
transportation modes to ensure consistent delivery regardless of
disruptions.

Revel in the Rail Revolution:

Explore the benefits of integrating rail transport into your
shipping strategy for cost-efficiency and reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

What are the optimal conditions for using intermodal

transportation?

The optimal conditions include moving freight over 300 miles,
consistent deliveries to the same metro location, proximity to a
rail ramp within 250 miles, heavy loads up to 46,000 pounds, and
the need for secure cross-border transportation.

How can I ensure capacity and pricing stability with an

intermodal provider?

Choose a provider that offers promotion pricing contracts
renewed every three months. These contracts provide short-term
price stability while allowing flexibility to adapt to market
changes.

UNLOCKING A MORE OPTIMIZED TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Three reasons to consider integrating intermodal into your long-term strategy.
Six things to look for when choosing an intermodal provider. Three ways to make the most of your intermodal moves. Revel in the rail revolution.

WHY YOU SHOULD LOOK AGAIN AT INTERMODAL
If there’s one constant in life, it’s change, and the current transportation market is once again showing its cyclical nature. The market is variable enough, let alone when a major disruption — extreme weather, port congestion or a loss of a carrier in the market — further restricts resources and capacity.
Prior to 2024, the market has been in a state of overcapacity, and on top of that, the transportation industry has faced high interest rates, increased operational costs and insurance premiums, and wage inflation. Because of that tremendous financial pressure, recent data shows that nearly 88,000 trucking companies closed in 2023, alongside 8,000 freight brokerages1.
In addition to the ongoing financial pressures, there is a freight volume shift approaching that will make the need to secure consistent capacity a priority. Identifying transportation opportunities in addition to traditional over-the-road will be imperative. The ideal time for businesses to reevaluate the role intermodal plays in their shipping strategy is well before the market shifts.
Intermodal moves freight via a combination of rail and road, and layering intermodal into your transportation mix provides an opportunity for freight optimization and diversification.
This transportation mode is cost-effective (and most beneficial) when:

LBs

Freight moves Loads go to the

300 miles same metro location

or more.

consistently.

Shippers are within 250 miles from a rail ramp.

Loads are heavy — up to 46,000 pounds.

Secure cross-border transportation is required.

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1 https://www.freightcaviar.com/carrierok-88-000-trucking-closures-in-2023/

Diversifying your transportation modes will help you hit your financial targets more consistently and get your freight delivered — regardless of disruptions.
While intermodal can help maximize your short-term shipping needs, it’s critical to also understand how it can positively impact your long-term transportation strategy and how to choose a multimodal provider that will benefit your business.
THREE REASONS TO CONSIDER INTEGRATING INTERMODAL INTO YOUR LONG-TERM STRATEGY
Establishing a long-term strategic game plan with an asset-based intermodal provider will help to position your freight — and business — for success. This means an optimized (and less stressful) supply chain regardless of the in-the- moment market conditions.
1. Competitive pricing without a long-term contract Contracts are a great way to get guaranteed capacity locked in at a market-fair price. For some shippers, long-term contracts can feel too restrictive. Those shippers may turn exclusively to the spot market to continuously try and find the best rates available. However, if the market turns, a shipper utilizing the spot market can be left paying extreme rates to move freight, resulting in a big hit to the bottom line. Plus, constantly turning to the spot market is a reactive, time-consuming, transactional task that doesn’t facilitate a proactive approach to transportation or build carrier loyalty.
But there is a way to get guaranteed capacity without the commitment of a long-term contract:
Work with an intermodal transportation provider that offers promotion pricing contracts that have price stability.
Work with an intermodal transportation provider that offers promotion pricing contracts that have price stability. These contracts are renewed every three months, providing short-term stability in pricing and allowing a shipper to move with the market more frequently than with traditional contract lengths — all the while knowing that capacity needs are met.
2. Diversify freight to mitigate bottlenecks and capacity constraints There is no one-size-fits-all solution to moving freight. That’s why diversification is an integral way to optimize freight transportation.
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Diversifying transportation modes helps spread out risk and keep freight moving based on what’s best for a shipper’s freight needs, network and the current market.
Diversification among transportation providers also helps a shipper find a provider that can best service the freight according to the lanes it runs and has scalable rail relationships within specific areas. Strategic transportation providers can also assess your supply chain and network to find optimizations and efficiencies, using the spot market on lanes where it makes sense and incorporating intermodal for stability and guaranteed capacity. When working with a carrier that offers multiple modes of transportation like intermodal, shippers get the peace of mind that their freight is continuously moving and efficiently getting where it needs to be.
3. Meet sustainability goals If shipping green is a priority, not only is transportation one of the top areas of improvement for reducing your environmental impact, but intermodal is one of the best modes to help meet key sustainability initiatives. In fact, the average reduction in CO2 emissions when moving loads by rail is 30%. Intermodal transportation providers that take sustainability seriously have the ability to help you meet your green goals through a variety of options.
Alternative fuel solutions Equipment like battery-electric trucks produce zero direct emissions and are impactful in reducing CO2 per-mile emissions. Schneider currently operates one of the largest battery electric vehicle fleets in North America at the company’s Southern California Intermodal Operations Center, featuring 92 battery electric trucks and two electric yard spotters powered by their own charging stations.
Carbon emission reduction goals By setting its own corporate responsibility and emissions goals, a transportation provider can help shippers find ways to reduce emissions and work together to meet sustainability goals.
Network optimization A transportation provider can assess a shipper’s network and suggest alternatives that reduce empty miles.
Freight consolidation As part of optimizing the network, identifying opportunities to consolidate freight streamlines the supply chain and reduces environmental impact.
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Intermodal transportation offers shippers a freight solution where cost, capacity, consistency, freight security and sustainability are top of mind. Incorporating this mode as part of a strategic transportation network can yield big results to the bottom line, while keeping shipments from going off the rails.
SIX THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING AN INTERMODAL PROVIDER
To get the most out of intermodal shipping and mitigate the headaches of managing your supply chain, it’s crucial to choose an intermodal carrier that can guarantee capacity, find efficiencies and give you more control over your freight. Look for these key intermodal carrier traits for strategic and cost- efficient intermodal shipping.
1. Invests in its own equipment When demand for capacity increases, so does the demand for equipment. And when every pound and inch matters, the right equipment becomes even more essential to maximize intermodal capacity. Unfortunately for shippers and intermodal carriers alike, rail companies focus more on optimizing their networks than they do supporting them with intermodal shipping equipment.
One thing to consider is leveraging an intermodal carrier that owns and maintains its own inventory of chassis and containers. Shippers utilizing intermodal carriers that rely on shared chassis pools may face increased disruption due to the uncertainty in equipment availability, consistency and reliability.
Availability In the shared pool, the demand is often greater than the supply. If there aren’t enough chassis available at the ramp, product will sit, causing costly delays.
Consistency Chassis have varying weights — up to a 700-pound difference between models. To avoid fines, shippers have to assume that they’ll get a heavy chassis, which limits the payload.
Reliability The shared pool doesn’t guarantee peak operating condition of its chassis, making breakdowns a common occurrence. A provider with owned assets can be more vigilant and proactive with the maintenance of its chassis fleet.
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THE BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH AN ASSET-BASED INTERMODAL PROVIDER
Asset-based intermodal carriers invest significantly in their own chassis, containers, tractors and drivers in order to provide safe and functioning equipment for shippers’ loads. Having owned assets provides more reliable service to shippers, and carriers have the ability to accommodate capacity surges more adeptly. Schneider’s owned, custom-spec’d equipment optimizes loads and provides more capacity, lowering he number of shipments needed and the costs for those shipments.
Schneider improves capacity dependability:
Chassis Up to 10% increase in payload. Lightweight chassis that are 700 pounds lighter than the
common pool chassis. Max payload is 46,000 pounds. Containers Two-plus inches inches wider. 100.375 inch inside width vs. 98 inches. Pinwheel loaded freight for increased capacity. Equipment maintenance Schneider has a maintenance presence at almost all of its
rail locations, maintaining a 97% availability on chassis. Schneider has approximately 100 service trucks that visit rail
facilities and customer locations for first priority of repairs.
More freight visibility and efficiency From the initial planning until the load has been delivered, all of the logistics of an assetowned shipment are controlled under one roof. On top of that, asset-based intermodal carriers work closely with the railroads to enhance opportunities for shippers.
This can include early access and priority loading, allowing shipments to be loaded and unloaded first. These benefits help keep cargo with a tight deadline on schedule and give customers an advantage when moving shipments via intermodal.
Another way Schneider offers enhanced efficiency is through Schneider FreightPower®, an online marketplace for quoting, booking and tracking loads. The self-service platform provides shippers with the tools they need for complete intermodal freight management.
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2. Holds long-term, strategic relationships with rail providers When a transportation and rail provider routinely collaborate, they develop a strategic working relationship. But that magic doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of the carrier committing to a consistent, regular volume of freight. When the transportation provider’s network complements the rail provider’s, the overlapping footprint makes for easier and more efficient freight moves. Over time, the two form a mutually beneficial relationship, which helps a carrier with securing capacity and getting freight moved with less risk of being bumped to the next departure. For this relationship to form, the rail needs to know it can rely on a carrier to provide a specific amount of large-scale, dense volume regularly. The carrier is then given that capacity before other third-party providers even get to request what they need. The carrier gets priority until that capacity threshold is reached, and if the carrier needs more, it has the ability to request additional placement based on past freight volume reliability. During changing market conditions or an unexpected surge, an established carrier can flex its capacity needs within a larger window of time. The rail will work to prioritize and accommodate the request before turning to less-established carriers looking to change their capacity needs, ensuring the large, asset-based intermodal carrier volume gets moved.
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RAIL RELATIONSHIP BENEFITS
An intermodal carrier without an established rail relationships is typically unable to secure timely placement on the train, let alone enough capacity. This setback can result in several days tacked on to the shipping duration.
Schneider Intermodal services all of North America, with over 60 ramp locations, and strategic relationships with the Union Pacific (UP), CSX and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) railroads. Schneider also has priority placement and capacity on all top lanes on the CPKC. Plus, Schneider’s relationship with CPKC’s north-south flagship Intermodal service between Chicago and all major points in Mexico solves for the needs of shippers moving freight cross-border. This is especially beneficial for the increasing number of manufacturers that are nearshoring their production to Mexico and moving goods into and out of the United States.
Schneider rail benefits:
Faster transits Ingate to departure times have decreased by an average of 1 hour. Ingate to delivery times have decreased by almost 20 hours.
Decreased dwell time Driver dwell time has decreased 7% at UP ramps.
More steel-wheel connections The scale of the UP/CSX means they operate more trains for a greater frequency in rail departures and daily trains. This amounts to more options and steel wheel connections, enabling more consistent transit and more reliable service, while reducing handling, driver time and congestion.
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3. Facilitates a thorough onboarding process to mitigate freight mismanagement No shipper wants to regret the decision of choosing a provider. A key factor in a successful transition is selecting an intermodal carrier that offers a step-by-step onboarding process with specially trained intermodal new business team members. To ensure business is set up for long- term success, shippers should ask their potential providers.
Onboarding questions:
How do you plan to align our network? Is there a single channel of communication? Are there regular check-ins? What resources do you offer to help become a shipper of choice? Can you provide a loading engineer to ensure my freight is secure?
4. Offers enhanced communication and freight visibility options Smaller shippers might be hesitant to work with a large transportation provider because they fear that the level of service and communication will be less than what larger shippers would receive. However, larger transportation providers who care
about all their customers, regardless of their size, should have the resources and technology to keep shippers updated and informed. A key place to start is finding an intermodal transportation provider that assigns you an individual customer service representative (CSR) who will be your go-to point person. The CSR will help provide a more personalized experience since they are dedicated to your account and to intermodal moves.
Another core component is finding a provider with a variety of communications systems that can be put in place to match the level of communications you’d prefer. A critical piece of equipment for safely and efficiently moving freight is the use of satellite tracking for end-to-end visibility. As the supply chain becomes more complicated, the importance of real-time visibility cannot be overstated. These days, it’s becoming less of a nice-to-have and more of a must-have.
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Complete freight visibility for intermodal moves is harder to achieve, making it a true differentiator when a transportation provider can deliver that clear line of sight into a shipment’s status. The key benefits for shippers include real-time, pertinent details regarding delivery status, delays and pending penalties. Your intermodal transportation provider should be embracing GPS tracking technology to achieve complete asset visibility for improved security and mitigated risk of lost equipment. In connection with an application programming interface (API), automatic order updates can be sent, eliminating status concerns and the need for manual freight status requests.
Having real-time analytics available helps shippers optimize intermodal operations, further enhancing their supply chains. Additionally, maintaining control of company drivers, containers and chassis helps with real-time communication.
5. Manages dray transportation with its own team of professional, safe drivers Drivers are what make the industry go round, and the best intermodal transportation providers understand the tremendous impact that the men and women behind the wheel have. Providers with their own professional, highly trained drivers are better able to meet shippers’ on-demand needs — regardless of the market conditions.
Successful drivers start with receiving the right support. This includes having a thorough understanding of a shipper’s business; education on how to safely handle their truck, in- and out-of-cab technology and the freight itself; and providing the right compensation and home-time opportunities. Establishing a helpful, supportive work environment gives drivers the tools they need to effectively do their jobs when moving your freight.
Receiving the right support:
Having a thorough understanding of a shipper’s business. Education on how to safely handle their truck, in- and out-of-cab
technology and the freight itself. Providing the right compensation and home- time opportunities.
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Safety is also a crucial component to moving freight. Shippers should look for transportation companies that go above the federal law in screening their drivers. One example is requiring urinalysis and hair follicle testing to remove unqualified candidates. Companies that invest in hair testing and monitor and treat sleep apnea in their drivers indicate advanced safety measures, so shippers can be assured freight is moved safely, securely and legally.
6. Has a dedicated load engineer for unmatched optimization and safety To further help optimize loads, ask whether the transportation provider has a load engineer on staff. A load engineer oversees and supervises outbound freight, analyzing loads and determining the most efficient and safest ways for them to move. They have advanced knowledge of how to best optimize containers to maximize payload while also keeping safety in mind. In some instances, they will even design and build special structures to ensure maximum payload and safety. After analyzing the freight and determining the best way to maximize the space of the container, a load engineer must also consider the physical forces that affect a load during transit. Vibration and shock are the two main forces that could impact freight during rail transportation, both of which occur continuously throughout the journey. Failure to control these forces can jeopardize the safe, damage-free movement of the freight. The load engineer will apply the best blocking and bracing measures based on the configuration to mitigate freight damage, and by extension, costly claims. Depending on the type of freight and how it’s loaded, multiple methods may be used to keep freight in place for maximum security.
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THREE WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR INTERMODAL MOVES
Whether a shipper is considering incorporating intermodal transportation into its supply chain for the first time or is already using intermodal, choosing a transportation provider comes down to more than cost, capacity and service. While those are definitely key considerations, there are additional ways to ensure that intermodal — and your transportation provider — is working hard for you.
1. Improve freight characteristics for preferred treatment To maximize intermodal’s power, it’s just as important to become a shipper of choice for intermodal providers as it is for any other mode of transportation. This is because intermodal providers dealing with productivity loss in the market or battling tight market capacity may prioritize loads from shippers with friendly freight characteristics.
To maximize intermodal’s power, it’s just as important to become a shipper of choice for intermodal providers as it is for any other mode of transportation.
By working with a collaborative intermodal provider like Schneider, shippers can efficiently improve their transportation strategy to include characteristics like open appointment windows and drop and hook instead of live loads to ensure their loads remain a top priority.
2. Leverage precision scheduled railroading (PSR) To get the most out of working with an intermodal provider, look for one that leverages PSR. PSR is a rail improvement strategy that transports the same amount of freight with fewer rail cars and locomotives, while using a schedule direct line of transport across a network. CSX recently converted to PSR, which has enabled longer trains, faster speeds and less dwell time in terminals since its conversion. As a primary rail used by Schneider, this is good news for shippers because train departure frequency matters.
For those moving freight with providers using railroads that will be switching to PSR, a multimodal provider should be on the priority list. During PSR implementation, shippers can expect ramp closures, decreased service and increased cost. To navigate these disruptions, ensure you have established relationships with providers like Schneider that are shipping intermodal with rail partners that already use PSR (like CSX) and are able to pivot to other mode options as disruptions occur.
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3. Maintain carrier relationships even when capacity is readily available As with all modes of transportation, the spot market can be attractive when capacity becomes widely available. However, when capacity inevitably tightens, shippers that try to convert back to their intermodal provider can find containers, drivers and capacity removed from areas they need it.
It’s vital to establish a long-term strategic game plan with an intermodal provider regardless of the market conditions. In working with a freight service provider like Schneider, you can bet on an optimized and less stressful supply chain and lock down capacity for market shifts.
REVEL IN THE RAIL REVOLUTION WITH SCHNEIDER’S REINVENTED INTERMODAL SERVICES
The time is now to rebalance your transportation mix to include intermodal — and Schneider. While the market was focusing on low rates during this most recent freight cycle, Schneider used the time to reinvent its intermodal services, providing truck-like service at intermodal prices. Over the past three years, Schneider and their rail partners have invested over $1 billion in improvements, increased capacity by 20% with more lightweight chassis and containers and significantly improved service percentages. Additionally, our transition to Union Pacific as our western rail provider has yielded 10% faster pickup to arrival so you can ship more — and do so more reliably.
Today’s supply chain challenges require partnerships that solve for tomorrow, making Schneider a premier choice for reliable service with a deep bench of associates ready to solve your complex logistics problems. Our Intermodal service is one of the most reliable in the industry, and our one-of a-kind innovations have sparked a rail revolution.
It’s time to look again at intermodal and see how it can get your freight ­ and your business ­ where you need to go.
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References

• CarrierOK: 88,000 Trucking Closures in 2023

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