Intermodal containers also go by many other names. A few of the most common alternative names comprise: ISO container, box, sea can, high-cube container, freight container, conex box, and container. These units are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide efficient and safe and secure storage for moving materials across the globe via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a term that refer to the container that could be moved between one type of transport to another. Intermodal could mean from a ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to reload and unload the contents of the container. 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 around 17 million intermodal containers of different kinds to suit a range of cargoes within the globe.
These containers can be transported by container ship, freight train and semi-truck trailer. They could also travel numerous distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes using container cranes. Normally a reach-stacker is employed to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a range of "twistlock" points located at every corner on the container.
Each container is equipped with a particular BIC code or bin identification code which is painted on the outside in order to take care of tracking and identification. These models are capable of carrying things ranging roughly 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container may be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars have been designed specifically for use by intermodal containers. They can safely and efficiently accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually limit the kinds of container shipment and the specific modes of the shipment. Like for example, the smaller loading gauges that are usually found within European railroads will only handle single-stacked containers. In some nations like for instance the United Kingdom, there are some sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they can utilize well cars only.
These containers are made to last and are used to travel extreme distances. They are re-used with businesses and could carry an enormous amount of cargo. These containers are responsible for transporting many of the items we rely on everyday all over the world.