The intermodal container may be referred to by other names such as a box, ISO Container, high-cube container, freight container, sea box, conex box, and container. These units are made from standardized reusable steel. They provide secure and effective and safe storage for moving supplies all over the globe via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a term that means the container that could be moved between one kind of transport to another. Intermodal may mean 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 vary from 2.438 m or 8-feet to 56 feet or 17.07m. These models are as high as 2.438 m or 8feet to 2.9 m or 9 feet, 6 inches. It is estimated that there are approximately 17 million intermodal containers of various types to suit a variety of cargoes within the world.
These containers can be transported by container ship, freight train and semi-truck trailer. They could also travel many distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes using container cranes. A reach-stacker is usually utilized to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a range of "twistlock" points located at every corner on the container.
Each and every container is equipped with a specific bin identification code or BIC code which is painted on the outside in order to take care of tracking and identification. These models are capable of lifting items ranging about 20 to 25 tonnes.
When using rail transport, the containers can be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars are particularly designed for transport by containers. They can accommodate double-stacked containers safely and efficiently. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually restrict the types of container shipment and the specific modes of the shipment. For example, the smaller loading gauges that are usually found within European railroads will just handle single-stacked containers. In certain countries like the United Kingdom, there are some sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could use well cars only.
These containers are built 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 transporting numerous of the stuff we rely on everyday all around the globe.