We conclude our conversation by asking Eduard what he is most proud of. He doesn’t need to think for long. Eduard: ‘An important milestone was when we connected with CTT and then went public with the name ITG. This marked the completion of our network. We’ve demonstrated that our network really works seamlessly by having terminals collaborate for our clients. I’m also proud of our client portfolio; we get to work with some amazing clients. The greatest compliment is when they entrust their business to us and continue to do so. ‘That confidence is a sign that we’re delivering good work. And let’s not forget about the people at ITG! I see the role they play in everything they do. Take the crane operator who shares on social media that he’s filled another boat. That’s fantastic, isn’t it? Yes, I think it’s brilliant. That makes me proud.’
Milestones
Eduard envisages intermodal transport playing an important role in the Netherlands and Belgium. He emphasises: ‘We need to make greater use of waterways and railways to ease the pressure on the roads. We’re committed to achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2040 and are investing in sustainable technologies such as hydrogen ships and electrically powered vessels. To succeed in this, we must navigate complex European regulations and secure political will. Sustainability is a long-term effort so we must maintain momentum.’
Eduard wants to emphasise the importance of the above. Eduard: ‘We must recognise that the port isn’t just there because of the North Sea but also because of the river flowing in and out of it. Rivers offer an efficient and sustainable means of transporting freight. The Romans understood long ago how essential rivers were for transport and trade. By tapping into this knowledge, we can create a more sustainable and effective transport system and this is crucial for the future of the Netherlands and Belgium.’
Vision for the future
Eduard also highlights that reliability is among ITG’s most important core values. Eduard states: ‘We say what we do and do what we say. That means communicating honestly and clearly with our clients when things are going well or when something goes wrong, no matter whether it is within or beyond our control. Solving the problem and the way it is tackled are just as important.’
A young company
Inland terminal network ITG (Source: ITG)
Eduard Backer
CEO Inland Terminals Group
Reliability
The history of Inland Terminals Group dates back just a few years. In 2021, BCTN was acquired by ITG, followed by MCS in 2022, and at the start of 2024, ITG was completed with the acquisition of CTT. This has made Inland Terminals Group the largest player in the market. Eduard explains: ‘We have 17 inland terminals and a 30% market share in barge transport to and from Rotterdam. This allows us to work efficiently and invest in further professionalisation. For our clients, this means we can offer more locations and solutions and respond flexibly to issues such as delays or disruptions. We have daily barge connections to and from the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. And with our trimodal terminal in Rotterdam we offer our clients rail connections to Poland, Switzerland, France and Spain. ’
‘From the sea, to the port, to the hinterland’
Before Eduard joined ITG, he had various jobs in the Netherlands and abroad, always within the maritime sector. Eduard laughs: ‘I went from the sea, to the port, to the hinterland. I’ve sailed all over the world, worked for major shipping lines, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and logistics companies. Now I’m in the hinterland, working in intermodal transport. We ensure that the Netherlands and Belgium remain accessible to our clients in a sustainable and efficient way.’
Multimodal transport company
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Eduard explains what ITG does: ‘ITG is a container carrier which primarily operates to and from the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, and then onwards to clients. We do so using intermodal transport, with vessels from the terminals and last-mile trucking. In Pernis, we connect the European rail network to the port of Rotterdam, enabling containers from across Europe to be transported by vessel to and from the deep-sea terminals in Rotterdam.’
Thanks to Inland Terminals Group (ITG) for allowing us to take a look behind the scenes at a multimodal terminal. Eduard Backer has been CEO of Inland Terminals Group (ITG) for the past year and a half. We talk to him about the company and the future of multimodal transport.
In our ‘Behind the Scenes’ series, we explore what is going on in the port of Rotterdam. We get an exclusive look at the day-to-day operations and processes of various companies at Europe’s largest port. In this edition, we delve into the world of the trimodal terminal. We follow the activities at the terminal, where goods arrive and depart by water, rail, and road. We also speak with employees who tell us more about the daily operations at a multimodal terminal, and the challenges and innovations within this sector. Are you curious about what is happening?
Behind the scenes:
The trimodal terminal
The logistics hub
BEHIND THE SCENES
Thanks to Inland Terminals Group (ITG) for allowing us to take a look behind the scenes at a multimodal terminal. Eduard Backer has been CEO of Inland Terminals Group (ITG) for the past year and a half. We talk to him about the company and the future of multimodal transport.
We conclude our conversation by asking Eduard what he is most proud of. He doesn’t need to think for long. Eduard: ‘An important milestone was when we connected with CTT and then went public with the name ITG. This marked the completion of our network. We’ve demonstrated that our network really works seamlessly by having terminals collaborate for our clients. I’m also proud of our client portfolio; we get to work with some amazing clients. The greatest compliment is when they entrust their business to us and continue to do so. ‘That confidence is a sign that we’re delivering good work. And let’s not forget about the people at ITG! I see the role they play in everything they do. Take the crane operator who shares on social media that he’s filled another boat. That’s fantastic, isn’t it? Yes, I think it’s brilliant. That makes me proud.’
Milestones
Multimodal transport company
The history of Inland Terminals Group dates back just a few years. In 2021, BCTN was acquired by ITG, followed by MCS in 2022, and at the start of 2024, ITG was completed with the acquisition of CTT. This has made Inland Terminals Group the largest player in the market. Eduard explains: ‘We have 17 inland terminals and a 30% market share in barge transport to and from Rotterdam. This allows us to work efficiently and invest in further professionalisation. For our clients, this means we can offer more locations and solutions and respond flexibly to issues such as delays or disruptions. We have daily barge connections to and from the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. And with our trimodal terminal in Rotterdam we offer our clients rail connections to Poland, Switzerland, France and Spain. ’
A young company
Eduard envisages intermodal transport playing an important role in the Netherlands and Belgium. He emphasises: ‘We need to make greater use of waterways and railways to ease the pressure on the roads. We’re committed to achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2040 and are investing in sustainable technologies such as hydrogen ships and electrically powered vessels. To succeed in this, we must navigate complex European regulations and secure political will. Sustainability is a long-term effort so we must maintain momentum.’
Eduard wants to emphasise the importance of the above. Eduard: ‘We must recognise that the port isn’t just there because of the North Sea but also because of the river flowing in and out of it. Rivers offer an efficient and sustainable means of transporting freight. The Romans understood long ago how essential rivers were for transport and trade. By tapping into this knowledge, we can create a more sustainable and effective transport system and this is crucial for the future of the Netherlands and Belgium.’
Vision for the future
Eduard also highlights that reliability is among ITG’s most important core values. Eduard states: ‘We say what we do and do what we say. That means communicating honestly and clearly with our clients when things are going well or when something goes wrong, no matter whether it is within or beyond our control. Solving the problem and the way it is tackled are just as important.’
Eduard Backer
CEO Inland Terminals Group
Reliability
Eduard explains what ITG does: ‘ITG is a container carrier which primarily operates to and from the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, and then onwards to clients. We do so using intermodal transport, with vessels from the terminals and last-mile trucking. In Pernis, we connect the European rail network to the port of Rotterdam, enabling containers from across Europe to be transported by vessel to and from the deep-sea terminals in Rotterdam.’
Before Eduard joined ITG, he had various jobs in the Netherlands and abroad, always within the maritime sector. Eduard laughs: ‘I went from the sea, to the port, to the hinterland. I’ve sailed all over the world, worked for major shipping lines, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and logistics companies. Now I’m in the hinterland, working in intermodal transport. We ensure that the Netherlands and Belgium remain accessible to our clients in a sustainable and efficient way.’
Inland terminal network ITG (Source: ITG)
‘From the sea, to the port, to the hinterland’
In our ‘Behind the Scenes’ series, we explore what is going on in the port of Rotterdam. We get an exclusive look at the day-to-day operations and processes of various companies at Europe’s largest port. In this edition, we delve into the world of the trimodal terminal. We follow the activities at the terminal, where goods arrive and depart by water, rail, and road. We also speak with employees who tell us more about the daily operations at a multimodal terminal, and the challenges and innovations within this sector. Are you curious about what is happening?
BEHIND THE SCENES