Freight Terminal Hierarchy and Added Value

In many instances, freight transport terminals fit within a hierarchy with a functionally integrated inland transport system of gateways and their corridors:

• Gateway (Level 1): A world class gateway should contain the whole range of value added activities related to transportation, from financing to modal and intermodal infrastructures. Still, basic gateways can also exist, mainly focusing on transshipment between maritime and inland transport systems.
• Freight distribution cluster (Level 2): Characterizes a complex of large inland terminals and freight distribution centers that command the distribution of a vast market area. Some like Chicago or Kansas City can have more added value activities than a gateway.
• Inland port (Level 3): Often a single intermodal terminal coupled with an array of distribution activities. Commonly acts as a load center for commodity chains.
• Satellite terminal (Level 4): Perform a very specific function such as transloading, often in the vicinity of a gateway. Some satellite terminals, such as in Los Angeles, are very significant at providing specialized freight distribution activities.