INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION:
What Safety-Minded Businesses Need to Know About
Intermodal Transportation and its Impact on Vehicle Restraints
February 2013
WHITE
PAPER
1
THE GROWTH OF INTERMODAL
TRANSPORTATION
Intermodal transportation has roots dating back to the 18th
century. During that time, mining companies in England
would ship coal containers up and down canals to horsedrawn vehicles waiting on shore.1 This trend of transporting
cargo using multiple modes of shipping (without the actual
handling of freight) may have originated hundreds of years
ago, but has gained serious momentum in recent years.
The expanded use of trailer-sized containers to move goods
around the world has transformed the way freight is packed
and loaded on trucks, ships and railcars.
Today, intermodal transportation is experiencing rapid
growth, fueled by a global
economy and the need to
transport goods over greater
distances using a variety of
transportation vehicles. In
addition, rising fuel costs,
highway congestion and
increased trucking legislation
have led many companies
to look at moving freight via
railcar or cargo ship. These
forms of transportation can
handle much larger loads and
are often more cost effective
and efficient at moving freight.
Recent studies support the
growing intermodal trend.
According to BSR.org, the intermodal industry transports
more than one-third the value of global trade and provides
more than 4.2 million jobs worldwide.2 In the United States
alone, domestic container traffic increased nearly 10
percent from 2010 to 2011 according to the Intermodal
Association of North America.3 The U.S. Department of
Transportation projects that international container traffic
will more than double by 2020.4
There is no dispute that intermodal transportation is on the
rise and shows no signs of slowing down. Many experts feel
the expansion of the Panama Canal, which is scheduled for
completion in 2014, will only fuel the trend. The expanded
canal will allow passage to ships with nearly three times the
container capacity, doubling the canal’s throughput once
the project is completed.5
INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION AND
THE LOADING DOCK
The rapid growth and expansion of intermodal
transportation impacts a wide variety of businesses
and industries worldwide. By its very nature, intermodal
transportation requires collaboration among two or
more forms of transportation, meaning businesses are
increasingly partnering to bring goods to market. For
example, the “ship-rail-trailer” method of intermodal
transportation places a container on a cargo ship that
ports in a U.S. city. The container is then unloaded to a
railcar, which transports the container to a regional hub
where it is loaded on a tractor trailer. This process requires
multiple businesses working together and has expanded
shipping beyond traditional port towns.
This increases the likelihood that intermodal containers will
end up at your loading dock. Many intermodal containers
have a cover plate above the rear impact guard that can
interfere with the chassis being safely secured to the
loading dock. An unsecure trailer can pose a number of
risks for companies, including worker injuries or fatalities,
damaged equipment and goods, lost productivity and more.
Wikipedia, Intermodal Freight Transportation, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_freight_transport
BSR.org, Sustainability Trends in the Container Shipping Industry,
http://www.bsr.org/reports/BSR_Sustainability_Trends%20_Container_Shipping_Industry_September_2010.pdf
3
Intermodal.org, Intermodal Industry Stats 2011, http://www.intermodal.org/statistics_files/stats6.shtml
4
American Association of Port Authorities, U.S. Public Port Facts, July 2008, http://www.aapa-ports.org/files/pdfs/facts.pdf
5
Rodolfo R. Sabonge, “Panama Canal Expansion: Changing Dynamics of World Trade,” AAPA Seaports Magazine, Summer 2008
6
United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Worker Safety Series – Warehousing,
http://www.osha.gov/Publications/warehousing.html
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UNIVERSAL VEHICLE RESTRAINTS
Intermodal container with cover plate.
According to OSHA, approximately 100 employees are killed
and 95,000 injured every year while operating forklifts.
Forklift accidents that happen at the loading dock can be
reduced or eliminated by properly restraining a trailer or
container. Some of the more common accidents include:
• Early Departure – A truck driver unexpectedly drives away
from the loading dock while a forklift operator is entering,
leaving or still inside the trailer.
• Landing Gear Collapse – The landing gear on a trailer gives
way causing the trailer to pitch forward or fall to the side.
• Trailer Pop-Up – A loaded forklift entering the rear of the
trailer causes it to move forward and drop, causing the
nose of the trailer to suddenly rise.
• Trailer Upending – The weight of the forklift sends the
trailer’s nose down, causing the rear end to move up and
away from the building.
• Trailer Creep – Repeated impact from the lift truck causes
the trailer to edge away from the dock, which can result in
the lift truck falling to the ground.
To help reduce the risk of accidents, many companies are
investing in automatic vehicle restraint systems to secure
trailers at the loading dock and keep workers out of the
drive approach. But what about intermodal containers?
It is important for safety-minded companies to research
their options and select a system that meets today’s
changing environment.
Rite-Hite Dok-Loks® offer the widest wrap around coverage on a trailer’s
rear-impact guard.
Rite-Hite is an example of a company that is developing
universal vehicle restraints designed for both trailers and
intermodal containers. The company – which invented the
vehicle restraint industry in 1980 – continues to develop
new products to meet industry demands. Rite-Hite recently
introduced the Dok-Lok® RHR-4000, which has a unique
hook design that helps protect against all types of trailer
separation accidents, accommodating traditional rear-impact
guards and intermodal containers. In addition to having the
most substantial wrap on rear-impact guards, the Dok-Lok
RHR-4000 is the only product to incorporate the patented
shadow hook, which adds another layer of safety by securing
intermodal containers with rear-impact guard obstructions.
When the Dok-Lok is activated, the hook attempts to
wrap around the rear-impact guard. If the hook comes
in contact with a plate obstruction, the shadow hook
pivots to secure the trailer in place. If the trailer moves,
the shadow hook locks in the safety stop, which prevents
trailer separation accidents.
...MANY COMPANIES ARE INVESTING
IN AUTOMATIC VEHICLE RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS TO SECURE TRAILERS AT THE
LOADING DOCK AND KEEP WORKERS OUT
OF THE DRIVE APPROACH. BUT WHAT
ABOUT INTERMODAL CONTAINERS?
Rite-Hite Dok-Lok RHR-4000 shadow hook makes contact with the cover
plate and pivots to secure the intermodal container.
3
VISUAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Installing a vehicle-restraint system is the first step to improving
loading dock safety. However, clear communication is just as
critical to accident prevention as the restraint. It is important
to choose a system that offers full-time communication of the
restraint status to the truck driver, dock personnel and forklift
operator. A full-time visual communication system is the most
effective way to communicate restraint status and whether it
is safe to enter/exit the trailer.
Traditional vehicle restraint systems use a red or green light
on the control box to indicate restraint status. This is an
important safety feature, but it has limitations. For example,
what if the control box is not in the line of sight of the forklift
operator? What if the forklift load is obstructing the control
box? What if the control box is covered by pallets?
Fully-integrated communication systems that provide instant,
status-at-a-glance feedback provide the safest solution. For
example, Rite-Hite offers the Rite-Vu™ Light Communication
System, which provides clear, constant communication of
restraint status to the forklift operator when entering and
exiting the trailer. In addition to lights on the control box,
the system features Corner-Vu lights that are located in the
upper corners of the interior dock door. These lights provide
a highly-visible status report as the forklift driver enters the
trailer. There is also Leveler-Vu lights that are mounted on
the dock leveler to confirm restraint status as the forklift
driver exits the trailer. The Rite-Vu system comes standard
with the Dok-Lok® RHR-4000.
All vehicle restraint systems vary by manufacturer, so it
is important to meet with a representative who can best
assess your needs. Companies like Rite-Hite provide onsite
demonstrations, perform safety assessments and can
develop customized solutions for the unique demands of a
loading dock environment.
SUMMARY
As intermodal transportation continues its global expansion,
it is important for safety-minded companies to stay ahead
of the curve when it comes to their business processes,
which includes choosing the right vehicle restraint systems.
Global transportation trends indicate that loading docks
will increasingly see more intermodal containers. Universal
vehicle restraint systems, like the Dok-Lok RHR-4000, are
necessary to provide the highest level of safety at the
loading dock due to their ability to secure traditional trailers
as well as intermodal containers.
To learn more about vehicle restraints, receive a loading
dock assessment or to schedule a demonstration, visit
RiteHite.com and click on the “Vehicle Restraint” box. You can
also schedule an appointment by calling (800) 456-0600.
Above: Rite-Vu lights mounted on dock leveler
Below: Rite-Vu lights mounted on the corners of the interior dock door.