International multimodal transport is a form of transportation organization, and its goal is to achieve the best benefits of the overall transportation of goods. It usually takes the container as the transportation unit, and organically combines different modes of transportation to form a continuous, comprehensive and integrated cargo transportation. Through one consignment, one invoice, one document and one insurance, the whole transportation of goods is completed by the carriers in each transportation section, that is, the whole transportation of goods is arranged as a complete Y-single transportation process.

2. Advantages of international multimodal transport

(1) Simplify the procedures of consignment, settlement and claim settlement, and save manpower, material resources and related expenses.

Under the international multimodal transport mode, all transport matters are handled by multimodal transport operators. The shipper only needs to face the multimodal transport operator, handle the consignment at one time, conclude the transportation contract, and pay the expenses and insurance. At the same time, because multimodal transport adopts a freight document and issues invoices in a unified way, the procedures of invoicing and settlement are simplified and manpower and material resources are saved. In addition, in the process of transportation, the multimodal transport operator is responsible for the whole transportation, which can also simplify the claim procedures and reduce the claim cost.

(2) Shorten the transportation time of goods, reduce the inventory, reduce the accidents of goods damage and poor goods, and improve the quality of freight.

Due to the close cooperation of various transportation links and modes, the connection is close, and the transit speed of goods is timely, which greatly reduces the stay time of goods on the way, thus ensuring that goods arrive at their destinations safely, quickly, accurately and in time, thus correspondingly reducing the inventory and inventory cost of goods. At the same time, the multimodal transport system uses containers as the transport unit for direct transport and professional machinery for loading and unloading, which greatly reduces the accidents of cargo damage and cargo difference and improves the transport quality of goods.

(3) Reduce transportation costs and save various expenses.

Because multimodal transport can be door-to-door, the shipper can obtain the freight documents after handing over the goods to the multimodal transport operator, and settle the foreign exchange accordingly, thus advancing the settlement time. This will not only help to speed up the turnover of funds occupied by commodities, but also reduce the expenditure of interest.

(4) Improve transportation management level and realize transportation rationalization.

Multimodal transport involves different transport operators, which can greatly expand the business scope, at the same time, it can give full play to the role of its existing equipment, choose the best transport route to organize reasonable transportation, and realize the optimal allocation of transport resources.

(5) Other functions: it is conducive to strengthening the supervision and management of the whole chain of goods transportation by government departments; Ensure that the country obtains a large proportion of freight income distribution in the whole process of freight transportation; It is helpful to introduce new advanced transportation technology; Reduce foreign exchange expenditure; Improve the utilization rate of domestic infrastructure; Through the national macro-control and guidance function, the transportation mode with the least damage to the environment is guaranteed, thus protecting the national ecological environment and promoting the sustainable development of transportation.

3, the basic conditions of international multimodal transport:

(1) There must be a multimodal transport contract. In international multimodal transport, the multimodal transport operator and the shipper conclude a multimodal transport contract.

The establishment of this contract must meet the following conditions:

① Use at least two different modes of transportation;

(2) Undertaking international cargo transportation;

(3) Accept the transportation of goods and be responsible for the transportation and storage of contract goods;

(4) It belongs to a contract, a paid contract.

(2) Multimodal transport documents must be used.

(3) It must be transported continuously by at least two different modes of transportation. Including the combined transportation of any two or more modes of transportation such as railway, highway, aviation and sea transportation.

(4) It must be international cargo transportation. This is one of the conditions different from domestic cargo transportation, which mainly involves the application of international transportation laws and regulations.

(5) The multimodal transport operator must be responsible for the whole process of cargo transportation.

The main characteristics of international multimodal transport are: the multimodal transport operator signs a transport contract with the shipper, organizes the whole transport in a unified way, and implements one consignment, one order to the end, one charge, unified claim settlement and full responsibility.