Intermodal containers also go by numerous other names. Several of the most popular alternative names consist of: ISO container, box, high-cube container, sea can, conex box, freight container, and container. These models are made from standardized reusable steel. They provide secure and efficient and safe storage for moving supplies across the globe via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a word that means the container that can be moved between one type of transport to another. Intermodal could refer from a ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to reload and unload the container's contents. Some of the container lengths that 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 8 feet or 2.438 m to 2.9 m or 9 feet, 6 inches. It is estimated that there are around 17 million intermodal containers in the globe of various types to suit a range of cargoes.
Containers are capable of being transported by freight train, semi-truck trailer and container ship. They could travel the distance of a single journey without being unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes utilizing container cranes. A reach-stacker is normally 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.
In order to manage to containers identification and tracking, every container is equipped with a BIC code or bin identification code painted directly on the outside of the box. These models are capable of carrying items ranging about 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container could 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 could actually limit the types of container shipment and the particular modes of the shipment. For example, the smaller loading gauges which are typically found within European railroads would only handle single-stacked containers. In certain nations like the United Kingdom, there are some sections of the rail network which cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they can use well cars only.
These containers are made strong enough to last through the many 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 objects we rely on everyday around the world.