Logistics 4.0 in intermodal freight transport

Abstract

While Industry 4.0 is the use of cyber-physical systems in manufacturing and supply chains, Logistics 4.0 is the use of similar systems within logistics (robotics and material handling) such as adaptive programming and AI. The EU's environmental policy - more precisely - the pressing need to reduce CO2 emissions from freight requires technological advancement. A possible solution to the problem is to increase the proportion of rail freight instead of road freight. This is not a new idea, but recent decades brought modest solutions. By examining current rail-road intermodal freight transport and container handling procedures, we established a new freight transport model and propose an efficient automated container handling procedure that will bring us closer to the environmental objectives. Efficient horizontal container handling proposed in this paper can facilitate growth in continental intermodal freight transport. The technological and process solutions presented in this paper increase competitiveness in terms of reducing costs and transportation times.