Intermodal containers also go by many other names. Some of the most popular alternative names comprise: box, ISO Container, sea can, high-cube container, conex box, freight container, and container. These models are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They offer safe and secure and efficient storage for transporting supplies all over the world via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a term which refer to the container that could be moved between one type of transport to another. Intermodal can mean from a ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to unload and reload the container's contents. Some of the container lengths that have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary from 2.438 m or 8-feet to 56 feet or 17.07m. 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 approximately 17 million intermodal containers of various kinds to suit a variety of cargoes within the world.
Containers are capable of being transported by container ship, freight train and semi-truck trailer. They could travel the distance of a single journey without being unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes by container cranes. A reach-stacker is usually used to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a variety of "twistlock" points located at each corner on the container.
In order to manage to containers tracking and identification, each container is outfitted with a BIC code or bin identification code painted directly on the outside of the box. These units can lift items ranging approximately 20 to 25 tonnes.
When using rail transport, the containers can be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars are particularly designed for transport by containers. They could accommodate double-stacked containers safely and efficiently. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually restrict the types of container shipment and the particular modes of the shipment. For example, the smaller loading gauges which are typically found in European railroads will only handle single-stacked containers. In some nations such as 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 built to last and are used to travel extreme distances. They are re-used with companies and could carry an enormous amount of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the items we rely on everyday around the world.