围绕技术创新、制度创新两条发展主线，追溯了近两个世纪以来美国多式联运产生、发展 及走向成熟的历程：一是从铁路产生和集装箱运输兴起、驮背运输产生到双层集装箱运输规模 化、网络化发展等技术创新的历程；二是以《斯塔格斯铁路法》、《地面货运代理商放松管制法》 （1986） 等为代表的，推动运价、代理制度等方面的改革，1991 年《冰茶法案》及紧随其后的 《协议费率法》（1993）、《卡车运输行业规章制度改革法案》（1994） 等一系列法案的出台，美国 在政策、立法、体制机制等方面制度创新的历程，以及技术创新与制度创新的相互影响的过程。 总结技术创新与体制机制创新两者在推进美国多式联运中的不同作用分别为：技术创新是发展多 式联运的基础，体制机制创新则是促进多式联运系统发展、功能不断健全的关键推动力量。

The overall process from appearance, development to maturation of intermodal transport in America was studied around two main clues, namely technological innovation and institutional innovation. The technological innovation history included the generation of railway, the application of container transportation, the development of the piggyback transportation, the large-scale and networking application of double-layer container and so on. Meanwhile, the laws Staggers Rail Act and The Surface Freight Forwarder Deregulation Act of 1986 represented the reform of freight rates and agent system in America. About the innovation in the policy, legislation and institution system of America, the process of the interaction between technological innovation and institutional innovation, a series of laws were passed such as Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, Agreement Rate Act of 1993 and Control Reform Act of the Truck Industry of 1994. A conclusion was made about the different function of technological innovation and institutional innovation in promoting the development of intermodal transport. Technological innovation is the foundation while the institutional innovation is the key factor in developing intermodal transport and improving its function.