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THETRUCKER.COM NATION OCTOBER 2022 • 3 Tax Problems? We Can Help! Free Initial Consultation! iStock Photo Some intermodal trucking jobs are local in nature, while others are more regional, with most containers going to receivers that are within a day’s drive of the port. Depending on the carrier and the availability of work, intermodal drivers often get home multiple times during the week, sometimes daily. Intermodal trucking can offer options for drivers who want to stay closer to home Truck drivers who are looking for more local and regional work than their current carrier provides often turn to the intermodal segment of trucking for answers. Many times drivers who are trying out their skills as owneroperators also find a home in intermodal. But what is intermodal trucking, and what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of driving intermodal? As the name implies, “intermodal” means that freight-filled containers can be transported by multiple modes of transportation. Containers often arrive in the U.S. by ship, where they can be unloaded and placed on rail cars for movement across the country. Once they are delivered to a rail facility, they are placed on chassis and transported by truck to their final destination. Some containers are trucked directly from the seaport, too. Since non-trucking modes of transport are often used for longer distances, trucks usually handle the pickup and delivery functions. Some of these are local in nature, with drivers moving several containers in a day’s work. Other moves are more regional, with most containers going to receivers that are within a day’s drive of the port. Depending on the carrier and the availability of work, intermodal drivers often get home multiple times during the week, sometimes daily. For owner-operators, the equipment requirements for intermodal work can be a little easier to meet than for other segments of the industry. For example, trucks used for intermodal are often older than their over-the-road counterparts. On the West CLIFF ABBO<strong>TT</strong> | SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Coast, particularly in California, however, strict emissions-reduction laws have been implemented, all but forcing older equipment out of the business. Another advantage of intermodal is that many loads are “drop-and-hook” on at least one end of the trip. Since the owners of the chassis generally charge carriers by the day for using them, trailer pools aren’t maintained at most customer locations, so live loading and unloading is common. At the railyard or port, however, a chassis with attached container is often dropped in a specific area or in a numbered space so it can be easily found. When picking up, drivers often find that these containers have been offloaded and placed on a chassis — ready to hook up and go. All the driver needs is a space number. Unfortunately, it isn’t always that easy. Sometimes drivers hook up to an empty chassis and then drive to a designated area where a crane or large forklift loads a container onto the chassis. Or, a driver with a loaded container may drive to an area where the box can be removed and either stacked for later use or immediately loaded onto a ship or rail car. The act of moving the container only takes a few moments, but wait times are often long when personnel can’t locate a container or the container has to be loaded on train or ship in a certain order. Ports and rail yards can be 24/7 operations or can have specific, sometimes limited, hours. Some truckers wait for hours to get SEE INTERMODAL ON PAGE 7 FULL SERVICE TAX SOLUTIONS Our Tax Pros are 100% dedicated to protecting the rights of truckers! ✔ Specializing in Truck Driver Taxes for Over 17 Years! ✔ Back Tax Preparation! ✔ Bookkeeping – You focus on the road; leave the books to us! ✔ Fixing owed tax debt – Completely! ✔ Preventing or Stopping wage garnishments! ✔ Offer in Compromise and Hardship Programs! We have a dedicated department that focuses on owner-operators. You can count on the experts at PTS to help you get organized, make more money, and pay less in taxes every year. Tax Resolution & Advisory Specialists Matthew.Sturm@practicaltaxsolutions.net https://practicaltaxsolutions.net/irs-tax-help/ 866.995.0002
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