The intermodal container could be called by other names like a box, high-cube container, ISO container, freight container, sea box, conex box, and container. These units are made from standardized reusable steel. They offer safe and secure and efficient storage for moving materials all around the world via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
The word "Intermodal" means that the container is capable of being moved from one kind of transport to another. For example, intermodal refers from ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to unload and relaod the container's contents. Some of the container lengths which have a unique 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 about 17 million intermodal containers of different kinds to suit a range of cargoes within the globe.
These containers could be transported by container ship, freight train and semi-truck trailer. They can also travel numerous distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes using 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 range of "twistlock" points situated at every corner on the container.
Every container is outfitted with a specific bin identification code or BIC code that is painted on the outside in order to take care of tracking and identification. These models are capable of carrying things ranging approximately 20 to 25 tonnes.
When using rail transport, the containers could be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars are specifically designed for transport by containers. They can safely and efficiently accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system may actually limit the kinds of container shipment and the specific modes of the shipment. For instance, the smaller loading gauges which are usually found in European railroads would just handle single-stacked containers. In some countries such as the UK, there are certain sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could use well cars only.
These containers are made to last and are used to travel extreme distances. They are re-used with businesses and can lift an enormous amount of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the stuff we depend on everyday around the world.