Intermodal containers also go by numerous other names. A few of the most common alternative names comprise: ISO container, box, sea can, high-cube container, conex box, freight container, and container. These units are made from standardized reusable steel. They provide safe and secure and effective storage for transporting supplies across the globe via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a word which refer to the container which could be moved between one kind of transport to another. Intermodal may mean from a ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to reload and unload the container's contents. Some of the container lengths that have a distinctive 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 2.9 m or 9 feet, 6 inches. It is estimated that there are approximately 17 million intermodal containers in the globe of different kinds to suit a variety of cargoes.
These containers could be transported by semi-truck trailer, container ship and freight trains. They can also travel numerous distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes utilizing container cranes. A reach-stacker is normally used to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models 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, each container is equipped with a BIC code or bin identification code painted directly on the outside of the box. These units could carry objects ranging about 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container can be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars have been designed specifically for use by intermodal containers. They could safely and efficiently accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually limit the specific modes of the shipment and the types of container shipment. For example, the smaller loading gauges which are typically found in European railroads will only handle single-stacked containers. In some nations like the UK, there are some sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could use well cars only.
These containers are made strong enough to last through the numerous travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by businesses and are able to transport huge amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving numerous of the items we depend on everyday around the globe.