Intermodal containers are also called many other names. Several of the most common alternative names include: ISO container, box, high-cube container, sea can, conex box, freight container, and container. These units are made from standardized reusable steel. They offer secure and efficient and safe storage for moving supplies across the world via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a word that refer to the container that could be moved between one kind of transport to another. Intermodal may refer from a ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to unload and reload the contents of the container. Several of the container lengths which have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them range from 2.438 m or 8-feet to 17.07m or 56 feet. These models are as high as 2.438 m or 8feet to 9 feet, 6 inches or 2.9 m. It is estimated that there are about 17 million intermodal containers of different types to suit a range of cargoes in the world.
These containers could be transported by freight train, semi-truck trailer and container ship. They can also travel numerous distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes by container cranes. Often times a reach-stacker is utilized to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a range 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 bin identification code or BIC code painted directly on the outside of the box. These units are capable of carrying items ranging approximately 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container may be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars have been designed specifically for use by intermodal containers. They could accommodate double-stacked containers safely and efficiently. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually limit the specific modes of the shipment and the types of container shipment. Like for instance, the smaller loading gauges which are typically found within European railroads would just handle single-stacked containers. In some nations like the United Kingdom, there are some 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 numerous travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by companies and are able to transport large amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for transporting numerous of the things we depend on everyday around the world.