UTI-NORM - Current State of Standardisation and Future Standardisation Needs for Intermodal Loading Units
Overview
Background & policy context:
At the core of efficient intermodal transport are standardised loading units that can be used with any means of freight transport. In Europe, the differences among countries and among cargo carriers have led to several sizes of containers being in widespread use. The current ISO (International Standardisation Organisation) container types 668 and 1496 are rarely used due to the uncompetitive volume compared to lorries and trucks, and, more importantly - the poor pallet accommodation patterns compared to those of road and rail vehicles. In contrast, swap bodies as standardised by CEN (European Standardisation Committee) are optimised for road and rail transport only, and do not offer economic solutions for inland waterway and short sea transport. In order to have a truly pan-European intermodal concept, loading units also have to be designed that are stackable and equipped with top corner fittings for lifting by spreaders.
Objectives:
UTI-NORM aimed to report on the current state of standardisation of intermodal transport units, and find a standard for the future European loading unit. This standard should offer as much interior volume for cargo accommodation as European road vehicles, along with a similar palletisation pattern, and improve transport economics for inland waterway and short sea transportation while keeping full compliance with road and rail operation needs (similar to current swap bodies).
The main objectives of UTI-NORM have been to:
- give first recommendations on the direction that European standardisation of intermodal loading units must take;
- outline the possibilities and needs for European transport policy and research to promote this standardisation process;
- propose the direction of European transport policy in order to incorporate the current standardisation proposals and to react to technology, economics and standardisation trends in intermodal transport.
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