{"id":2209,"date":"2025-07-16T05:00:52","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T03:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.portalegenio.it\/?p=2209"},"modified":"2025-07-14T11:00:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T09:00:16","slug":"innovation-and-efficiency-in-intermodal-transport-interview-with-eng-davide-muzio-managing-director-of-the-intermodal-terminal-of-mortara-pv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portalegenio.it\/en\/innovation-and-efficiency-in-intermodal-transport-interview-with-eng-davide-muzio-managing-director-of-the-intermodal-terminal-of-mortara-pv\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovation and Efficiency in Intermodal Transport: Interview with Eng. Davide Muzio, Managing Director of the Intermodal Terminal of Mortara (PV)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The evolution of intermodal transport is revolutionizing the logistics sector, offering increasingly efficient and sustainable solutions for freight movement. In this article, we had the privilege of interviewing an industry expert to delve into the benefits, challenges, and future prospects of intermodal transport. The interview was conducted by Michele Marcolongo, editor of the PortaleGenio<\/strong> blog, the new platform dedicated to freight movement through intermodality.<\/p>\n

1. <\/strong>Can you tell us a bit about your company and the sector in which you operate? How long have you been active in the market and what are your main services?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Mortara Terminal was conceived in the late 1990s and became operational in 2008. After being connected to the RFI rail network in 2009, we had to manage the start-up phase, which was not easy for a private operator during the global crisis caused by the subprime collapse and the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy.<\/p>\n

Over the years, the terminal has established itself as a model of excellence in the services offered, to the point that in 2023, German operator Kombiverkehr<\/strong> (one of the leading intermodal operators in Europe) decided to invest in the terminal\u2019s management company, creating Kombi Terminal Mortara srl<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We offer the classic services of an intermodal terminal, primarily transshipment of loading units between trucks and trains. However, we stand out for the speed of these operations: for us, an average of 15 minutes between entry and exit is standard, whereas in other terminals times can be measured in hours. We also pay meticulous attention to train loading, planning every single unit in advance with our clients.<\/p>\n

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2. Can you explain what intermodal transport is and what its main advantages are over traditional transport methods?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Broadly speaking, intermodal transport<\/strong> involves the use of two or more modes of transport\u2014for example, road-rail-sea.<\/p>\n

More commonly, it refers to the road-rail combined transport system<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The core idea is that the loading unit travels the longest part of the journey by rail, and only the initial and final segments by road. The more the rail segment is utilized, the greater the economic<\/strong> and CO\u2082 emission savings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Additionally, driver management<\/strong> can be optimized, as the loading unit travels unaccompanied on the rail portion and requires a driver and truck only for the first and last mile<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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3. What emerging technologies are transforming intermodal transport?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Transshipment between trucks and trains is mainly carried out using gantry cranes<\/strong> (usually electric) or rubber-tired cranes<\/strong> (reach stackers), typically diesel-powered. Over the years, crane engines have made great strides in reducing pollution, and recently, electric and hydrogen-powered reach stackers have begun testing.<\/p>\n

On the railcar side, progress has also been made: on one hand, railcars are being specialized<\/strong> for different load types; on the other, they\u2019re becoming more versatile<\/strong>. Environmental improvements have included synthetic brake pads<\/strong>, which are less polluting and significantly quieter than cast iron ones.<\/p>\n

In addition to traditional loading systems, horizontal loading solutions<\/strong> are being developed for non-craneable semi-trailers.<\/p>\n

Another emerging topic is refrigerated unit power supply<\/strong>. Freight trains typically lack electrical power, so maintaining temperature\u2014especially on long journeys\u2014is a key success factor for rail transport of this type.<\/p>\n

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4. What are the main challenges intermodal transport faces today, and how can they be overcome?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Today, intermodal transport faces two major challenges:<\/p>\n