Types of Multimodal Transport Operators (MTO)

1. NVOCC-MTO: a non-vessel operating common carrier multimodal transport operator.

• A Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) is an ocean carrier that transports goods under its own House Bill of Lading, or equivalent documentation, without operating ocean transportation vessels. Rather, an NVOCC leases space from another ocean carrier, or Vessel Operating Common Carrier (VOCC), that they sell to their own customers. 
• An NVOCC can be described as a shipper to carriers and a carrier to shippers. 
• While NVOCCs do not usually own their own warehouses, many own their own fleet of containers. 
• In certain circumstances, a NVOCC may also operate as a freight forwarder. 

2. VOCC-MTO: a vessel operating common carrier multimodal transport operator.

• Traditionally, ship owners only carried cargo from port to port. 
• Many ship owners have now extended their services to also include carriage over land and even carriage by air. 
• The ship owners or Vessel-operating (VO) companies thus became MTOs and are known as VO-MTO. 
• The MTO typically does not own or operate road, rail or air transport modes but arranges for these types of transport by sub-contracting.