There are various types of shipping containers and, believe it or not, each one has its own purpose. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to imagine the shipping industry without the containers of all sorts. With the introduction of container tracking service, shipping has become an even safer way to transport goods from one point to another.
What are the shipping containers?
Shipping containers are the structural units the purpose of which is to store different kinds of products during the shipping process. Quite often, goods need to be delivered to a very distant destination and that is why it is very important that a shipping container is a reliable one, able to protect the items inside. Materials used for the manufacture of shipping containers are usually metals. The most common types are steel, aluminum, and fiber-reinforced polymer materials which are able to endure the conditions the containers might be exposed to during transport. Most types of shipping containers have closed-top with hinged doors and their walls are corrugated.
Shipping containers come in different sizes
The most common types of shipping containers range from 20ft to 40ft. Of course, there are also some custom-made models and their size depends on the particular needs of the goods being transported inside. Choosing the right type of container for your goods is essential. Any other decision could lead to common shipping problems.
The types of shipping containers
Now, let us classify the containers according to their use, shall we?
Dry storage container
This is one of the most common types of containers. It is also known as a “standard shipping container” since they are standardized by ISO. These containers are called dry because they are used for shipping dry materials. Their size can be 20ft, 40 ft, and 10ft.
Open side storage container
What is specific about this storage unit is that its side doors can be completely opened which makes loading and unloading so much easier. This is why this type of shipping container is great for materials that don’t have a standard shape.
Open top container
This type of container is used for shipping materials of any height. It has a convertible top that can be opened completely when necessary.
Flat rack container
Flat rack containers have collapsible, foldable sides. That makes them perfect for loading, transport, and unloading of almost all sorts of goods.
Double doors container
Just like the name of this container suggests, it is equipped with double doors, making a wider room for handling the materials during loading and unloading. These containers come in sizes of 20ft and 40ft and they are made of steel or aluminum. Professionals from the moving and storage industry, such as those from PortaBox Storage Seattle say that containers like these are the best solution for moving household items over long-distances.
Tunnel container
This type of container has doors on both ends of the container. That is very practical for loading and unloading of long packages and other materials.
Insulated or thermal containers
These are the containers that have a regulated temperature control inside. That allows them to maintain a certain temperature regardless of the weather conditions outside. Special attention is made to the choice of materials for this container since constant exposure to high temperatures could be harmful to the container itself. Insulated containers are the best choice for long-distance transportation of products.
Refrigerated ISO containers
Refrigerated containers also have a temperature regulation system. They are used for transporting goods that are sensitive and require carefully controlled low temperature. Such is the case with fruits and vegetables that need to be transported over long distances.
Tanks
Tanks are usually made of stainless steel or some other materials resistant to corrosion. These containers are used for the transportation of liquid substances. Many industries couldn’t be imagined without such storage containers.
Cargo storage roll container
Cargo storage roll container is a specialized unit made for transporting stacks or sets of materials. They are constructed of thick, durable wire and rollers which enable easy movement.
Car carriers
Car carriers are the best solution for the transportation of cars over long distances. Naturally, these containers have collapsible sides and special systems that prevent cars from moving inside the container during shipping. The size of a container will determine how many cars fit in it.
Half-height containers
These containers are made of steel and they are half the height of full-sized containers. They are used for transport of goods we need quick and easy access to when loading and unloading, like stones or coal.
Intermediate bulk shift containers
Just like the name suggests, these containers are used for the intermediate shipping of goods and that is their only purpose. They can endure large quantities of materials which makes them great for transport to a destination where they can be further packed and shipped to the final spot.
Special purpose containers
If any of your goods didn’t fit any of the previously described types of shipping containers, this is the solution that you need. Special purpose containers are custom made and mostly used for high profile services such as the shipment of dangerous or very sensitive goods. The materials they are constructed from depends on their purpose. The security of goods is the main priority that the constructors need to have in mind.
Swap bodies
Finally, these are the containers that are not made in accordance with the ISO standards, but they are still rather useful. They can mostly be found in Europe. What is specific about this type of shipping container is that it has a strong bottom and a convertible top. That is a great combination of features for shipping various types of products.
Once again, be careful when choosing a container for the transportation of your goods. Some types of shipping containers are better than others for what you might be looking for.
