Multimodal transport will allow logistics to improve quality and efficiency to run out of "acceleration"

Experts suggest to strengthen the multimodal transport "one single system" and "one box system" standardization research



Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance and the General Office of the People's Bank of China jointly issued the Notice on the Key Work of Cost Reduction in 2024. In terms of adjusting and optimizing the transport structure, the four departments plan to vigorously develop multimodal transport, and support the development of "one single system" and "one box system" of multimodal transport. Experts believe that this will promote the improvement of the quality and efficiency of transportation logistics, and better service support to achieve "the flow of things."

Multimodal transport refers to the transportation process that relies on the mutual connection and transfer of two or more means of transport. The development of multimodal transport is an inevitable requirement to promote the cost reduction and efficiency increase of transportation logistics and support the construction of a modern economic system.

For the current overall development trend of multimodal transport in China, Shen Mengru, secretary of the Party branch of the Department of Traffic Information Management Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, and deputy secretary-general of the Big Data Branch of the China Federation of Logistics and Procurement, said that at this stage, China's bulk cargo transport accounts for a relatively large proportion of the domestic trade transport market, in the case of rising logistics costs. The cost advantages and efficiency advantages of multimodal transport have gradually emerged, and it has entered a stage of large-scale development, basically forming a multimodal transport development pattern dominated by international sea-rail and international railway combined transport, and the digital transformation and upgrading process of the logistics industry has also accelerated. Although compared with developed countries, the standardization of multimodal transport in China is relatively low at this stage, and a relatively complete multimodal transport system has not yet been formed, the logistics industry market in China has a large room for growth, and it is expected that the market segments such as sea-rail intermodal transport and international railway intermodal transport will maintain a strong growth trend. "After 10 years of continuous promotion and rapid development, it can be said that China's multimodal transport development support is more solid, the state issued relevant policies to promote the adjustment of transport structure, around the interconnection of facilities, information exchange, model optimization, formulate relevant standards to promote the development of 'one single system' and 'one box system', multimodal transport cost reduction and efficiency results are remarkable." Shen Mengru said.

It is understood that in terms of reducing logistics costs and improving efficiency of multimodal transport, compared with traditional modes of transport, sea-rail combined transport can reduce the total cost of freight by 30%. "Behind the cost reduction and efficiency increase of logistics is the standardization, standardization and innovation exploration of the 'one single system' and 'one box system' of multimodal transport." In Shen Mengru's view, promoting the coordination of multimodal transport standard rules is an important support for the development of "one single system", opening up the information barriers of multimodal transport is an important basis for promoting the electronization of multimodal transport documents and realizing the efficient circulation of document information, and "one single system" and "one box system" are important measures for multimodal transport to improve transport efficiency and quality and expand multiple services. It is the basic condition for the development of "one single system" to cultivate multimodal transport operators with the ability of whole transport organization.

"In the future, China's logistics industry can further focus on exploring the development of multimodal transport standard rules, intelligent equipment upgrading, supply chain platform building, digital technology upgrading and other fields, so that logistics quality and efficiency can run out of the 'acceleration'." Shen Mengru said.

China Quality News