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Unlocking Ef ciency: Leveraging Multimodal Solutions in Today’s Supply Chains Recently announced plans for mergers and partnerships in the U.S. rail network highlight the value of multimodal operations across the country. F or 2025, U.S. rail intermodal Pivoting to a multimodal strategy may require some internal change
value has experienced modest growth, reaching the highest volume in August since May 2021, according to the Association of American Railroads. Multimodal supply chain solutions—those that combine more than one mode of transportation, such as rail, road, sea, and air under a single contract—offer signi cant bene ts by reducing costs, enhancing speed, and delivering greater customer satisfaction. The concept of multimodal transportation can also extend to different highway modes such as truckload, less-than-truckload, and parcel shipments. The goal of a multimodal strategy is to enable shippers to optimize routes, streamline logistics, and manage volatility in global markets. “Multimodal solutions help shippers simplify their processes to reduce fragmentation and take out some of that complexity where issues can happen,” says Tim Kolb, Group Director – Freight Brokerage for Ryder System, Inc. DATA AS THE FOUNDATION To discover if multimodal options are a good t, shippers can work with a strategic logistics partner to analyze 12 to 24 months’ worth of load-level data to evaluate opportunities. With that data, it’s possible to assess modes, carriers, and lanes to optimize the cost structure across the entire network. “Evaluating the data holistically is the rst step towards putting together the best, most ef cient operation,” Kolb says. “You
management as transportation managers learn new ways of doing business.
“Shippers tend to have their way of doing things, and oftentimes it is highly ef cient, but sometimes they haven’t kept up with changes in their network and the latest best practices,” Kolb says. “One of the responsibilities of the strategic partner is to help their customers evaluate options and stay as innovative and cutting-edge as possible.” Ryder offers port-to-door services covering everything that happens within a shipper’s supply chain, from the port of origin to the door of the end user. “We want to help shippers nd the best possible solution to manage cost effectively and ef ciently and provide exible solutions whenever possible within that port-to-door operation,” Kolb says. Multimodal strategies aren’t just about mixing modes—they’re about designing smarter, more exible supply chains. Shippers that audit their shipment data, right-size freight to the correct mode, and build stronger, more focused carrier partnerships, will be positioned to lower costs, simplify operations, and gain resilience in today’s dynamic freight market.
can identify inef ciencies in modes, and carriers, and balance service levels and costs. Shippers that don’t undergo the analysis are probably spending more than they should if they don’t have the right carrier mix in their network,” Kolb adds. ROLE OF THE STRATEGIC PARTNER The strategic logistics partner can provide advice on the pros and cons of adopting a multimodal strategy and the value of simplifying operations and allowing shippers to focus on their core competencies. “It’s critical to understand all the strengths and weaknesses within the carrier network and then be able to match the right carrier to each load,” Kolb says. The outcome is a leaner carrier strategy: fewer partners, and deeper, more strategic relationships. With clear alignment on roles and capabilities, shippers can maximize the value of every provider in their supply chain.
www.ryder.com
16 Inbound Logistics • October 2025
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