METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING AN INTERMODAL FACILITY
First Claim
1. A method of providing an intermodal service, the method comprising:
- acquiring ownership of an intermodal facility by a first business entity;
executing a contract, wherein the contract is a contingent lease agreement between the first business entity and a second business entity, the contract obligating the first business entity to give exclusive use of the intermodal facility to the second business entity, the contract obligating the second business entity to pay a periodic fee to the first business entity, the contract providing the second business entity the right to at least one of terminate the contract and modify the terms of the contract;
providing an amount of use of the intermodal facility to the second business entity; and
charging the second business entity based on the periodic fee.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus to operate an intermodal facility are disclosed. In a method described herein, a carrier enters into a contractual agreement with a separate intermodal facility owner to have exclusive use of the intermodal facility. Alternatively, a rail-to-truck and/or truck-to-rail intermodal facility owner may provide non-exclusive use to multiple railroads. In one embodiment, the contractual agreement is a contingent lease. For example, if intermodal facility use falls below a threshold, a carrier may terminate the contingent lease. Preferably, the carrier has no minimum use requirements associated with the intermodal facility. Instead, the shipper associated with the carrier is charged by the intermodal facility owner based on the amount of intermodal facility use (e.g., on a per container basis). In one preferred embodiment, a real estate developer owns the intermodal facility and builds a business park near the intermodal facility in order to capture the related business.
5 Citations
60 Claims
-
1. A method of providing an intermodal service, the method comprising:
-
acquiring ownership of an intermodal facility by a first business entity; executing a contract, wherein the contract is a contingent lease agreement between the first business entity and a second business entity, the contract obligating the first business entity to give exclusive use of the intermodal facility to the second business entity, the contract obligating the second business entity to pay a periodic fee to the first business entity, the contract providing the second business entity the right to at least one of terminate the contract and modify the terms of the contract; providing an amount of use of the intermodal facility to the second business entity; and charging the second business entity based on the periodic fee. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. A method of providing an intermodal service, the method comprising:
-
purchasing land; developing an intermodal facility and a business park on the land; providing exclusive use of the intermodal facility to a business entity; moving a number of containers from a first mode of transportation to a second different mode of transportation at the intermodal facility for the business entity; charging the business entity based on a periodic fee; and providing the business entity with contingent rights, wherein the contingent rights may be exercised to reduce the periodic fee. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
-
-
49. A method of providing an intermodal service, the method comprising:
-
acquiring ownership of an intermodal facility by a first business entity; moving a first number of containers between a first plurality of railroad cars and a first plurality of trucks at the intermodal facility for a second business entity; charging the second business entity based on a first periodic fee; providing the second business entity with contingent rights, wherein the contingent rights may be exercised to reduce the first periodic fee; moving a second number of containers between a second plurality of railroad cars and a second plurality of trucks at the intermodal facility for a third business entity; charging the third business entity based on a second periodic fee; and providing the third business entity with contingent rights, wherein the contingent rights may be exercised to reduce the second periodic fee. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52)
-
-
53. A method of providing an intermodal service, the method comprising:
-
acquiring ownership of an intermodal facility by a first business entity; moving a first number of containers between a first plurality of railroad cars and a first plurality of trucks at the intermodal facility for a second business entity; charging the second business entity based on the first number of containers; moving a second number of containers between a second plurality of railroad cars and a second plurality of trucks at the intermodal facility for a third business entity; charging the third business entity based on a periodic fee; and providing the third business entity with contingent rights, wherein the contingent rights may be exercised to reduce the periodic fee. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
-
-
56. A method of providing an intermodal service, the method comprising:
-
acquiring ownership of an intermodal facility by a first business entity; executing a contract between the first business entity and a second business entity, the contract obligating the first business entity to give exclusive use of the intermodal facility to the second business entity; providing an amount of use of the intermodal facility to the second business entity, wherein a third business entity is a customer of the second business entity, the third business entity associated with a portion of the amount of use; charging the second business entity a fee based on the amount of the use; and collecting the fee at the first business entity, wherein a portion of the fee is collected directly from the third business entity. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
-
-
59. A method of providing an intermodal service, the method comprising:
-
acquiring ownership of an intermodal facility by a first business entity; executing a contract, wherein the contract is a contingent lease agreement between the first business entity and a second business entity, the contract obligating the first business entity to give exclusive use of the intermodal facility to the second business entity, the contract obligating the second business entity to pay a periodic fee to the first business entity and pay a fee based on the amount of use, wherein upon the happening of first predetermined event, the contract providing the second business entity the right to at least one of terminate the contract and modify the terms of the contract, wherein upon the happening of second predetermined event, the contract providing the second business entity the right to at least one of terminate the contract and modify the terms of the contract; providing an amount of use of the intermodal facility to the second business entity; and charging the second business entity based on the periodic fee and the amount of use. - View Dependent Claims (60)
-
Specification