The intermodal container could be called by other names such as a box, high-cube container, ISO container, freight container, sea box, conex box, and container. These units are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide safe and secure and efficient storage for transporting supplies all over the world via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
The term "Intermodal" refers that the container could be moved from one kind of transport to another. Like for instance, intermodal refers from ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to unload and relaod the contents of the container. A few of the container lengths which have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them range from 8-feet or 2.438 m to 17.07m or 56 feet. These units are as high as 8 feet or 2.438 m to 9 feet, 6 inches or 2.9 m. It is estimated that there are around 17 million intermodal containers of various types to suit a range of cargoes within the world.
These containers could be transported by freight train, semi-truck trailer and container ship. They can also travel numerous distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes using container cranes. A reach-stacker is usually used to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These units are secured during transportation by a variety of "twistlock" points situated at every corner on the container.
In order to manage to containers tracking and identification, every container is equipped with a BIC code or bin identification code painted directly on the outside of the box. These units could lift objects ranging around 20 to 25 tonnes.
When utilizing rail transport, the containers can be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars are specifically designed for transport by containers. They could accommodate double-stacked containers efficiently and safely. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually limit the specific modes of the shipment and the kinds of container shipment. Like for instance, the smaller loading gauges that are normally found within European railroads will just handle single-stacked containers. In certain nations like the UK, there are certain sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they can utilize well cars only.
These containers are made strong enough to last through the numerous travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by companies and are able to transport large amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the things we rely on everyday around the world.