Continental Combined Transport mainly uses rail to transport the goods during the main-carriage. Swap bodies, trucks or their trailers are used as load carriers for transshipment along the continental transport chain.

Transshipment of the standardized load carriers between the different modes of transport along the continental transport chain takes place in terminals, that are equipped with appropriate transshipment technologies.

Depending on type and characteristics of a loading unit (e.g., craneable or non-craneable) and terminal type, there are different transshipment systems and technologies. These systems and technologies are divided into horizontal and vertical systems based on the direction of movement of the loading units.

The maritime transport chain in CT is divided into pre-, main- and on-carriage. Main-carriage takes place on the seaward side / seaside between two seaport terminals using containerships. Pre- and on-carriage are supplemented by the transport mode rail in the port hinterland. Standardized ISO containers are characteristically used in maritime CT. The ISO container can be transshipped as a complete loading unit at the main transshipment points.