The intermodal container may be referred to by other names like a box, ISO Container, high-cube container, sea can, freight container, container and conex box. These models are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They offer safe and secure and efficient storage for transporting supplies across the globe via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a term which refer to the container that could be moved between one type of transport to another. Intermodal could mean from a ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to reload and unload the contents of the container. Several of the container lengths which have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary from 8-feet or 2.438 m to 56 feet or 17.07m. These models 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 various types to suit a variety of cargoes in the globe.
These containers could be transported by semi-truck trailer, container ship and freight trains. They can also travel numerous distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes utilizing container cranes. A reach-stacker is usually 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 every corner on the container.
Every container is outfitted with a certain BIC code or bin identification code that is painted on the outside in order to take care of identification and tracking. These units can carry 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 especially for use by intermodal containers. They can efficiently and safely accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually restrict the particular modes of the shipment and the types of container shipment. Like for instance, the smaller loading gauges that are normally found within European railroads will just handle single-stacked containers. In some nations such as the UK, there are some sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could 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 large amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the stuff we rely on everyday around the world.