Intermodal containers also go by many other names. A few of the most common alternative names include: box, ISO Container, high-cube container, sea can, conex box, freight container, and container. These models are made from standardized reusable steel. They offer effective and safe and secure storage for moving supplies across the world via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a term that means the container that could be moved between one kind of transport to another. Intermodal can refer from a ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to unload and reload the contents of the container. Some of the container lengths which have a distinctive ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary from 8-feet or 2.438 m 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 approximately 17 million intermodal containers of different types to suit a range of cargoes within the globe.
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 utilizing container cranes. Normally a reach-stacker is utilized to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These units are secured during transportation by a range of "twistlock" points located at every corner on the container.
To be able to manage to containers identification and tracking, every container is outfitted with a bin identification code or BIC code painted directly on the outside of the box. These units could carry items ranging approximately 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container may be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars have been designed particularly 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 particular modes of the shipment and the types of container shipment. For instance, the smaller loading gauges that are normally found within European railroads will just handle single-stacked containers. In certain countries like the UK, there are some sections of the rail network which cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could 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 numerous of the stuff we rely on everyday around the world.