The intermodal container could be called by other names like a box, ISO Container, high-cube container, sea can, freight container, conex box, and container. These units are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide effective and safe and secure storage for moving supplies all around the world via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a word which means the container which can be moved between one kind of transport to another. Intermodal may refer from a ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to reload and unload the container's contents. Several of the container lengths which have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them range from 2.438 m or 8-feet to 56 feet or 17.07m. These models are as high as 8 feet or 2.438 m to 9 feet, 6 inches or 2.9 m. It is estimated that there are around 17 million intermodal containers of various kinds to suit a range of cargoes in the world.
These containers can 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 using container cranes. Often times a reach-stacker is utilized 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 each corner on the container.
Each container is equipped with a specific BIC code or bin identification code which is painted on the outside to be able to take care of identification and tracking. These models could lift items ranging about 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container can be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars have been designed particularly for use by intermodal containers. They can safely and efficiently accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually restrict the particular modes of the shipment and the types of container shipment. Like for instance, the smaller loading gauges which are usually found in European railroads will just handle single-stacked containers. In some nations like for example the United Kingdom, there are certain sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they can use well cars only.
These containers are made to last and are used to travel extreme distances. They are re-used with companies and can lift an enormous amount of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the objects we depend on everyday around the globe.