Hub Group goes international; third party skills developed domestically will be applied to international shipments. (Hub Group Inc.)

International and domestic containerization share many of the same problems, and the Hub Group believes they share many of the same solutions.

Hub, which claims to be the largest intermodal marketing company, is trying to apply its domestic intermodal skills to the movement of international containers within North America.

The company has launched Hub Group International, a new business unit that has begun pitching its services to ship lines, forwarders and shippers.

"Management of an international box is no different from management of a domestic box," said Tom Hardin, president of Lombard, Ill.-based Hub Group.

Hardin said that in two decades on the domestic side of the business, Hub has developed skills in managing equipment, filling empty boxes and information technology that can be applied to the land movement of international containers.

Hub Group International is led by Jerry Cople, a former executive with American President Lines and Sea-Land Service. Bob Bauer, formerly with NYK Line, also has signed on with the new venture.

Hub has been interested in the international market for some time. Last year Hub announced a merger with Richmond Transportation, a third-party agent specializing in international …