Multimodal cargo transportation
Multimodal transportation means moving cargo by several modes of transport along one route under the responsibility of one forwarder. Uzbekistan has no access to the sea, so much international cargo arrives exactly this way: by sea to a port, then by rail or road.
Why combine modes of transport
- Lower cost. Sea and rail freight are cheaper on long legs, while road is more convenient for the last mile.
- More route options. If one route is congested, cargo can go through another port or border crossing.
- One contract. You don't negotiate separately with the shipping line, the railway and the trucking company: we manage the whole route.
Typical routes to Uzbekistan
| Origin | Route |
|---|---|
| India, Southeast Asia | sea to Bandar Abbas or Poti → road or rail to Tashkent |
| Europe | sea / rail / road via Turkey and the Caucasus, Kazakhstan or Russia |
| China | rail to a transshipment station → road to Tashkent, or the other way round |
| UAE | sea to Bandar Abbas → road |
Container shipping
The basic unit of multimodal transport is a 20 ft or 40 ft sea container. Cargo is loaded at the supplier and travels in the same container to the final destination, without handling the goods at each stage. This reduces the risk of damage and loss. We ship in standard (DC), high cube (HC), refrigerated, open top and flat rack containers.
What the service includes
- pricing several route options by cost and transit time;
- booking the container and space on the vessel or train;
- arranging transshipment at ports and stations;
- through transport documents (bill of lading, SMGS, CMR);
- transit customs clearance and clearance in Uzbekistan;
- tracking the container at every stage and delivery to the warehouse.
How we work
- We receive your request with cargo and supplier details.
- We offer 2–3 route options with different prices and transit times.
- We book transport for every leg and agree the schedule.
- We supervise loading, transshipment and border crossings.
- We clear customs and deliver the cargo to the consignee.
Ports and transit for cargo to Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is surrounded by countries that are also landlocked, so any sea cargo transits at least one country. Ports in Iran, Georgia, Turkey, China, Russia and the Baltics are used, followed by rail or road. The choice of port depends on the origin country, type of cargo, transit cost and route congestion. We work through ports in Iran, Georgia and Turkey, as well as overland routes via China, Kazakhstan and Russia.
FAQ
How is multimodal different from intermodal transport?
In multimodal transport the whole route is covered by one contract with one carrier-forwarder responsible for the cargo from start to finish. In intermodal transport each leg may have its own contract.
Does it take longer than direct road freight?
Usually yes, because of transshipment. But on long routes (India, Southeast Asia, the Americas) a multimodal option is often the only one that makes sense on price.
Who is responsible for the cargo during transshipment?
As the forwarder, we arrange and supervise every stage, including transshipment at ports and stations.
To get a quote, fill in the form below: tell us what you are shipping, the weight and volume, origin and destination. Your manager will contact you, suggest a route and mode of transport and calculate the cost.
