The intermodal container can be called by other names such as a box, high-cube container, ISO container, sea can, freight container, container and conex box. These units are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They offer secure and effective and safe storage for transporting materials across the globe via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
The term "Intermodal" refers that the container can be moved from one kind of transport to another. 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 distinctive ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary from 2.438 m or 8-feet to 17.07m or 56 feet. These units are as high as 2.438 m or 8feet to 9 feet, 6 inches or 2.9 m. It is estimated that there are roughly 17 million intermodal containers in the world of various types to suit a range of cargoes.
Containers are capable of being transported by semi-truck trailer, container ship and freight trains. They can travel the distance of a single journey without being unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes utilizing container cranes. Usually a reach-stacker is employed to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These units are secured during transportation by a range of "twistlock" points situated at each corner on the container.
Each and every container is outfitted with a certain BIC code or bin identification code which is painted on the outside in order to take care of identification and tracking. These models are capable of lifting items ranging around 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 can accommodate double-stacked containers safely and efficiently. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually limit the types of container shipment and the specific modes of the shipment. Like for instance, the smaller loading gauges which are typically found in European railroads will only handle single-stacked containers. In some countries like the United Kingdom, there are some sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could utilize well cars only.
These containers are made sturdy enough to last through the numerous travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by companies and are able to transport huge amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the stuff we rely on everyday around the globe.