Final answer:
Intermodal traffic, which refers to the use of standard shipping containers easily transportable by ships, trains, and trucks, has indeed grown significantly due to lowering shipping costs and facilitating global trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, intermodal traffic has grown considerably with the increased use of containers for shipping and the rise of global trade. The invention of the intermodal container in the 1950s facilitated remarkable efficiencies in the shipping industry by allowing cargo to be transported seamlessly across different modes of transportation, such as ships, trains, and trucks. This innovation significantly reduced the cost of shipping and sped up the process, contributing to the decline in trade barriers and a dramatic increase in the movement of goods globally.
The rise of globalization was markedly influenced by the advent of containerization. Due to the standardized design and the ease of transfer between transport carriers, containerization has reduced the costs of moving goods by as much as 90%, leading to an increase in the number and capacity of container ships. Consequently, this improvement in logistics has played a crucial role in increasing world trade and connecting economies.