We understand it may be confusing to go through so much technical information while searching for containers. There are a variety of containers and associated terms with them that come with the knowledge of containers. So, it is natural to be overwhelmed with the information.
To make it simple for you to start, we are here with 4 W that you need to understand before getting into depth. So, without any further delay let’s dive into it.
1. What Actually Are Shipping Containers?
From garments to food, to medicine, almost all necessities and every other small or large thing, is transported with the help of shipment containers. So, you can say these containers are the backbone of the international market. These containers allow the transport of things from one location to another without any harm. Simply put, the general purpose of the containers is to ship products from one place to another.
2. What are the Sizes of Containers?
The most common sizes of the containers available are 20 ft and 40 ft. However, 10ft containers are also available that are used for storage commonly, or transport of fewer things at a local level. Depending on your needs you can compare shipping containers and select the one that suits you best.
To give you a better idea, a 20ft container can hold the luggage of a 3 bedroom house easily. It is most commonly used for road travel. As for air travel, a 10ft container can be considered. While 40ft containers are widely used for the shipments that have to travel across seas.
3. What are the Types of Containers?
There are many types of containers that you can consider. Some of them are;
1. Standard Containers
These containers are a great option for dry shipping. They are commonly 8ft wide, 8.5ft high, and 20, 40, and 45ft in length. Mostly, these containers are used for shipping the cargo. They can be used for land and water travel.
2. High Cube Containers
These containers are just like standard containers, but they are extra 1ft high. They are commonly used for products that are a little high to carry in a standard container.
3. Open Roof Container
These containers as the name suggests don’t have the roof. For things that are too heavy to carry and need the assistance of a crane to carry are transported in such containers.
4. Flexitank Container
These containers are used to carry the liquid cargo. However, the condition is that the liquid should be non-volatile such as water and cooking oil. It can carry 10-24 thousand liters, but upon customization, it can easily accommodate up to 100,000 liters.
These 4 types are the most prominent ones. Other types include reefer containers, insulated containers, special-purpose containers, and flat rack containers.
4. What Mode of Transportation Do Shipment Containers Use?
There are three ways in which shipment containers are transported.
- Sea freight: travel by sea.
- Road freight: travel by land/road.
- Air freight: travel by air.
After learning about the foundation of shipping containers, you can learn in-depth about all these particulars from YouTube and select the best container for your needs.