The intermodal container may be called by other names such as a box, high-cube container, ISO container, freight container, sea box, container and conex box. These models are made from standardized reusable steel. They offer efficient and safe and secure storage for moving supplies across the globe via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a word which refer to the container that could be moved between one type of transport to another. Intermodal could mean from a ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to reload and unload the contents of the container. Some of the container lengths that have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary from 8-feet or 2.438 m to 17.07m or 56 feet. 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 about 17 million intermodal containers within the globe of various types to suit a range of cargoes.
Containers are capable of being transported by container ship, freight train and semi-truck trailer. They can travel the distance of a single journey without being unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes by container cranes. Usually a reach-stacker is used to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a variety of "twistlock" points situated at every corner on the container.
In order to manage to containers tracking and identification, every container is equipped with a BIC code or bin identification code painted directly on the outside of the box. These models could carry items ranging around 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 efficiently and safely accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually limit the specific modes of the shipment and the kinds of container shipment. Like for instance, the smaller loading gauges that are typically found within European railroads would only handle single-stacked containers. In certain countries like for instance 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 numerous travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by businesses and are able to transport large amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for transporting numerous of the items we rely on everyday all around the globe.