The intermodal container may be referred to by other names like a box, ISO Container, high-cube container, freight container, sea box, conex box, and container. These models are made from standardized reusable steel. They offer secure and efficient and safe storage for moving materials all over the world via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a word which means the container which could be moved between one kind of transport to another. Intermodal could refer from a ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to unload and reload the contents of the container. Some of the container lengths which have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary 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 9 feet, 6 inches or 2.9 m. It is estimated that there are about 17 million intermodal containers of different kinds to suit a variety of cargoes within the globe.
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 using container cranes. A reach-stacker is normally used 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.
In order to manage to containers tracking and identification, each container is equipped with a BIC code or bin identification code painted directly on the outside of the box. 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 could accommodate double-stacked containers safely and efficiently. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually limit the types of container shipment and the particular modes of the shipment. Like for example, the smaller loading gauges that are normally found within European railroads will only handle single-stacked containers. In some countries like for example the UK, there are some sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they can utilize well cars only.
These containers are built to last and are used to travel extreme distances. They are re-used with businesses and could carry an enormous amount of cargo. These containers are responsible for transporting many of the objects we depend on everyday around the globe.