Hinterland Transport
Connects the yard to the consignee by truck, rail, or barge within time windows and capacity limits. Slot bookings, gate moves, and intermodal transfers are planned backward from customs release. Inputs include transport orders, slotting systems, e-CMR or manifests, and terminal availability. The purpose is cost-reliable end-to-end lead time and efficient equipment use. Performance is reflected in avoided missed slots, reduced dwell time, and on-time final delivery. Feedback loops update future berth and yard plans using reliable departure and arrival timestamps.
Step 1Cargo Pick-up
Books a slot, verifies release, and matches truck, rail, or barge capacity to the yard location. Gate procedures validate IDs, seals, and dangerous goods status. Turnaround time is reduced through accurate pre-advice and stack selection. Data events confirm custody transfer from the terminal to the carrier. The purpose is fast and clean extraction from the yard. Performance is measured by short turn times and few gate exceptions.
Step 2Intermodal Transfer
Moves units between modes to optimize cost, time, and emissions. Transfers are sequenced to meet barge and rail departures and road windows. Constraints include crane availability, barge draft limits, and rail pathing. Data links bookings, manifests, and live ETAs. The purpose is resilient and economical flows beyond the quay. Success is measured by tight connection keeping with minimal dwell.
Step 3Final Delivery
Completes the final leg to the consignee or distribution center within the delivery window. Access constraints such as time slots, equipment needs, and site rules are managed proactively. Proof of delivery is captured and the transport order is closed. Exceptions including damage or shortages are documented with evidence. The purpose is fulfillment of the commercial promise at destination. The outcome feeds performance analytics for the next port call.
Related Research Problems
Truck Appointment Scheduling
- Scheduling and slotting truck arrivals to reduce gate queues and improve terminal throughput and truck turn times — directly affects hinterland pickups and delivery reliability.
Yard-Vehicle Routing
- Routing yard vehicles (straddles, AGVs, tractors) to reduce travel time, congestion and dwell — improves speed to dispatch and arrival punctuality.
Yard-Crane Scheduling
- Schedule yard cranes and lifts to minimise reshuffles and delays that cascade into gate/dispatch queues and inland connections.
Execution Party
ECT InlandLinks
- Digital platform linking Rotterdam with inland terminals (rail/barge/truck). Facilitates booking, visibility, and efficient routing.
Kuehne+Nagel
- Freight forwarding and inland transport (truck/rail/barge) from Rotterdam into Europe, via own fleet & partners.
DHL Global Forwarding
- Organises multimodal routes (road/rail/barge/air), executes inland trucking, coordinates cross-border flows.
Rhenus Logistics
- Inland container transport by barge, rail, and truck, operating depots and hubs across Europe.
Planning Party
ECT InlandLinks
- Plans hinterland network capacity, inland connections, and slot allocation for rail/barge services.
Kuehne+Nagel
- Builds multimodal connections, books terminal/carrier slots, and optimises end-to-end supply chains.
DHL Global Forwarding
- Coordinates customs, schedules inland modes, and manages cross-border capacity planning.
Rhenus Logistics
- Plans barge/rail rotations, terminal slot reservations, and last-mile trucking.
Available Data
| Data Source | Description |
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NDW Open Data (Road Traffic)
Last update:
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Real-time Dutch motorway data (speeds, incidents, travel times) for truck ETA/corridor planning.
Version: Free (public)
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Bridge Openings & Port Berths API
Last update:
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API for bridge openings and available berths (incl. Rotterdam) to support barge scheduling.
Version: Free (public)
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Rijkswaterstaat Waterinfo (Docs & Download)
Last update:
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Query/export water levels, flow, waves & forecasts for draft/UKC planning.
Version: Free (public)
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RWS Waterwebservices (API)
Last update:
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Machine access to Waterinfo time series (levels, discharge, waves) for automated routing.
Version: Free (public)
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ProRail Rail Geometry (WMS/WFS)
Last update:
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Open rail infrastructure layers (alignment, clearances) supporting rail path feasibility.
Version: Free (public)
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ProRail Basemap
Last update:
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National rail basemap for network context, yards and access points.
Version: Free (public)
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Waterinfo Viewer
Last update:
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Quick visual check of gauges and forecasts (situational awareness supporting the APIs).
Version: Free (public)
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Free (public): The content is publicly accessible on the website without login or payment.
