When people hear the word shipping containers, they typically think of the large metal boxes that are used to transport goods by ship, train, or truck. However, there are actually a variety of different types, each with its own specific purpose.
In this blog post, you’ll discover the various types of shipping containers and their special purposes. After reading through it, you will have attained knowledge on things related to shipping containers.
Different Types of Shipping Containers
A Dry Van shipping container also known as a general-purpose container is an intermodal freight container used for transporting various manufactured goods and materials. This type of transport has two distinct door configurations:
1. Dry Van Shipping container with one set of double doors on one end
A Dry Van Shipping container with one set of double doors on one end is the most popular choice for transporting goods across sea, land, or rail. With a set of double doors that securely shuts and locks in place, you are assured your cargo will arrive safely. These containers also make great storage solutions.
2. Dry Van Shipping Container with doors on both ends/tunnel container
A dry van shipping container with double doors on both ends, also known as a tunnel container, is incredibly practical due to its double doors on both ends, allowing easy loading and unloading of contents from either side. It’s the perfect solution for businesses that value convenience during cargo transportation.
Dry van containers come in different sizes and capacities. The most common types include:
- 10ft shipping container: This container is the smallest of all dry van containers, and it is capable of transporting up to 11,600 lbs. of freight!
- 20ft container: This is the most common type, and can comfortably transport up to 33,000 lbs of cargo.
- 40ft Container: For large shipments, this container is the best option. It provides a total capacity of 45,000 lbs.
- 40ft High Cube Containers: Compared to 40ft containers, these storage containers are one foot taller and provide an additional 800 cu ft of space.
- 45ft High cube containers: These containers come in a larger size, yet are often hard to find since they’re not as widely available.
Reefers are refrigerated containers constructed with both stainless steel and aluminum, providing an insulated environment of R30 that is maintained by a powerful electric cooling unit. With regulated temperature control ranging from -15 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, they provide the perfect setting for long-distance transportation of goods such as perishable items safely throughout the world.
There are various refrigerated shipping containers that aren’t equipped with a functioning refrigeration unit, otherwise known as “insulated non-working refrigerated shipping containers”, which typically feature a double set of doors placed on one end. These sorts of units may also go by the names “insulated containers” and “non-operating reefer containers (NOR).” The most common size for these types of reefers is 8 feet tall, 8 feet wide, and 40 feet long.
Flat Racks are the perfect cargo containers for any irregularly shaped or oversized goods. With no sides or roof, they primarily consist of a metal frame with an anti-corrosive material wooden floor that can be found in various sizes – 8 feet tall and either 20 or 40 feet long. Common type items to ship using flat racks include boats, heavy machinery, bulky furniture pieces, etc., which simply will not fit inside standard-sized shipping containers.
An open-top shipping container is much like a traditional cargo box but without a metal roof. In its place, it has an all-weather tarpaulin and extractable bows – perfect for easy loading and unloading of large or tall items that are usually lifted by a crane. This kind of vessel offers more storage than standard vans due to its easily removable roofing system.
An open-side storage container is almost identical to the traditional fully-enclosed metal storage containers, except that one of its sides has two bi-fold doors instead of a wall. These extra bi-fold doors can be opened partially or entirely removed if necessary. It’s often referred to as a side access container, full-side access container, or simply a side-opening storage container.
Duo-Con shipping containers are an innovative solution for businesses that require 10-foot storage space. These 20-foot containers can be easily split in half along the designated panels to form two separate 10-foot units. Additionally, each container is supplied with front walls which must then be welded on to produce a standardized metal box ready for use as a conventional 10-foot shipping container.
Tank containers also referred to as intermodal ISO tanks are specialized stainless steel storage units that are employed for the transportation of liquid materials like gases. Whether it be hazardous or non-hazardous material – these sophisticated tanks offer a safe transportation solution due to the fact they have been crafted according to international standards and fitted into an easy-to-handle ISO frame.
Shipping container chassis are tailor-made trailers that have been carefully crafted to carry heavy load containers, including 20′, 40′, and 45′-foot varieties as well as the 53′ High Cube containers.
What's In It For You?
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
An empty 20-foot container weighs approximately 1.8 to 2.2 metric tonnes (3,970 to 4,850 pounds), while an empty 40-foot container weighs around 4,500 to 8,200 pounds. It’s important to note that these weights can vary, and the total weight can increase significantly when loaded with cargo.
There may be more than 16 different types of shipping containers, some of the most common types include standard dry containers, high cube containers, flat rack containers, open-top containers, open-side containers, refrigerated containers, tank containers, and shipping container chassis.
Yes, you can put a shipping container on wheels. This process involves adding a chassis or a trailer underneath the container, allowing it to be easily transported and moved as needed. The wheels provide mobility and flexibility, making it convenient to transport the container to different locations.
