The intermodal container may be referred to by other names such as a box, ISO Container, high-cube container, sea can, freight container, container and conex box. These models are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide safe and secure and efficient storage for transporting supplies across the globe via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a term that refer to the container that could be moved between one kind of transport to another. Intermodal may refer from a ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to unload and reload the container's contents. Some of the container lengths which have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them range from 2.438 m or 8-feet 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 different types to suit a variety of cargoes.
These containers could be transported by freight train, semi-truck trailer and container ship. They can also travel numerous distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes by container cranes. A reach-stacker is usually used to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a variety of "twistlock" points located at every corner on the container.
Each container is equipped with a certain bin identification code or BIC code which is painted on the outside to be able to take care of tracking and identification. These models are capable of carrying items ranging approximately 20 to 25 tonnes.
When utilizing rail transport, the containers can be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars are specifically designed for transport by containers. They could accommodate double-stacked containers efficiently and safely. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually restrict the types of container shipment and the specific modes of the shipment. Like for instance, the smaller loading gauges that are typically found within European railroads would only handle single-stacked containers. In certain countries such as the UK, 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 numerous travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by businesses and are able to transport huge amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the things we depend on everyday all around the world.