The intermodal container may be called by other names such as a box, ISO Container, high-cube container, sea can, 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 all around the world via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
The term "Intermodal" refers that the container is capable of being moved from one type of transport to another. For example, intermodal means from ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to reload and unload the contents of the container. Some of the container lengths which have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them range from 8-feet or 2.438 m to 56 feet or 17.07m. 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 approximately 17 million intermodal containers of different kinds to suit a range of cargoes within the world.
These containers can be transported by semi-truck trailer, container ship and freight trains. They can also travel many distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes using container cranes. Often times a reach-stacker is 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 each corner on the container.
To be able to manage to containers identification and tracking, each and every container is outfitted with a BIC code or bin identification code painted directly on the outside of the box. These units are capable of carrying 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 especially for use by intermodal containers. They can safely and efficiently accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually restrict the particular modes of the shipment and the kinds of container shipment. For instance, the smaller loading gauges that are normally found in European railroads will just handle single-stacked containers. In certain nations like for instance the United Kingdom, there are certain sections of the rail network which cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could utilize well cars only.
These containers are made strong enough to last through the many 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 objects we rely on everyday all over the globe.