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Advantages of CT

Vorteile Kv
Combined transport is subject to some prejudices regarding its effectiveness and profitability. As a rule of thumb, CT will only pay off at a minimum transport distance of 500 km, plus it is only suitable for a certain number of goods and products. 

A common assumption is that high-quality and fragile goods, in particular, are unsuitable for CT. Undoubtedly, the advantages of combined transport lie in the area of long-distance transport. However, CT may well be worthwhile even at shorter distances. 

Cost advantages should therefore always be checked in each individual case. Relevant factors for creating a suitable transport offer are quantity, distance, connection and frequency of transport. In addition, "soft" criteria such as quality, environment and safety must be taken into account and companies must be informed accordingly. 

This may result in an improvement of a company’s image, for example with the slogan "we drive environmentally conscious". Likewise, the knowledge about quality and safety of individual transport systems might cause a change of thinking or a different transport decision. 

In general, combined transport offers numerous advantages from administrative and economic perspectives.

Business advantages

44 tons rule

Vehicles employed in the first and final leg to or from the nearest suitable terminal within 150 kilometers may have a total weight of 44 tons (in contrast to vehicles in normal road transport with a permissible maximum weight of 40 tons). The transport of larger quantities here leads to a reduction of truck journeys.

Exemption from vehicle tax

For vehicles employed during the first and final leg of CT no vehicle tax is due, provided that the journeys take place within 150km air-line distance from or to the terminal.

Low toll costs

Road tolls for kilometers driven by truck can be reduced or even avoided by using CT. Toll fees apply only to routes on highways and some federal highways during the first and final leg of the transport.

Exemption from driving bans

Vehicles employed during the first and final leg of CT are exempted from driving bans on Sundays and public holidays. However, the distance traveled by truck may not exceed 200 km from the train station to the consignee/consignor or 150 km from the port terminal to the consignee/consignor.

Reliable transit times

Rail and ship transport in CT usually take place in scheduled services, by which predictability and an optimal order processing can be guaranteed. Every kilometer not driven by truck leads to a reduction or to the elimination of driver rest periods. The consequences are free personnel capacities, reduced costs for maintenance, and compatibility of family and work through short first and final leg transports instead of long-distance transports.

Economical advantages

Cost advantages through mass means of transportation

Summarizing cargoes on mass means of transportation creates cost advantages per transported ton.

Reduction of Street Congestion

The use of CT diminishes truck traffic on the road. The negative perception of trucks in long-distance traffic by the population is reduced (empty highways and federal highways, less traffic jams, less pollutant emissions, etc.).

CO2 reduction

The summary of cargoes on mass means of transportation and the reduction of truck transports has a positive impact on the CO2 balance per loading unit. In particular, rail and inland waterways are considered to be environmentally friendly modes of transport. In the course of the Federal Government's climate protection goals, an increasing shift from road to rail or inland waterway is being sought (ECOTransIT, TREMOD).

High transportation security

Permanent transport monitoring, central operating control of track-guided traffic routes (rail) and inland waterway transport result in a high level of transport safety, especially concerning the transport of dangerous goods.

Economic use of modes of transport

CT combines the strengths of the individual modes of transport: regional point-to-point delivery by truck, bundling of large volumes over long distances by means of mass transportation, such as rail, inland waterway or ocean vessels.