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 offer safe and secure and effective storage for moving materials all around the globe via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
The word "Intermodal" refers that the container can be moved from one type of transport to another. Like for instance, intermodal refers from ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to unload and relaod the contents of the container. Some 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 units are as high as 2.438 m or 8feet to 9 feet, 6 inches or 2.9 m. It is estimated that there are approximately 17 million intermodal containers within the world of various kinds to suit a range of cargoes.
These containers can be transported by semi-truck trailer, container ship and freight trains. They can also travel many distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes utilizing container cranes. Often times a reach-stacker is 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.
To be able to manage to containers identification and tracking, each and every container is outfitted with a BIC code or bin identification code painted directly on the outside of the box. These models could 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 could accommodate double-stacked containers safely and efficiently. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually restrict the particular modes of the shipment and the types of container shipment. For instance, the smaller loading gauges that are normally found in European railroads will only handle single-stacked containers. In some nations like the UK, there are certain sections of the rail network which 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 businesses and are able to transport large amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the items we depend on everyday around the world.