All You Need to Know about Shipping Containers

Shipping containers are cargo containers used to store and move products in large quantities. They are also known as Conex boxes, ISO containers, railroad containers, and so forth. Transportation containers are designed to allow for intermodal shipping, which is the moving of containers from one mode of transport to another, such as ship, rail, or truck, without the need to load, unload, and reload their contents. Shipping containers are designed to protect things being transported from stress and severe weather, as well as to keep storage products intact. They were built for commercial shipping container transportation and were first used in the 1950s.

The dimension, construction, and material of the Shipping Container might vary depending on the sort of cargo being delivered. The characteristics of these shipping containers were eventually standardized, which facilitated transportation by eliminating the need to load and unload cargo along the route.

Types of Shipping containers

Shipping containers vary in size and shape based on the load and manner of transport, among other factors.

Dry storage container

They are the most often used shipping containers and are available in a variety of ISO-standard dimensions. They are used for transporting dry commodities and come in sizes of 20ft, 40ft, and 10ft.

Flat Rack Container

These are simple storage shipping containers with foldable sides that may be folded to form a flat rack for shipping a variety of goods.

Open Top Containers

Open Top containers have a movable top piece that allows them to transport products of any height.

Tunnel Container

Container storage units include doors on both ends of the container, which aid in the efficient loading and unloading of items.

Storage container with an open side

These storage cabinets include doors that can be opened entirely to give a significantly larger space for loading things.

Container with two doors

They are a type of storage container with twin doors, allowing for more space for loading and unloading things.

Temperature Controlled Shipping Container

These are temperature-controlled cargo containers that maintain a constant low temperature. They are only used for transporting perishable goods such as fruits and vegetables across vast distances.

Containers that are insulated 

These are the shipping storage containers that include a temperature control that allows them to keep a greater temperature.

The materials used are chosen in such a way that they will last a long time without being destroyed by frequent exposure to high temperatures. They are best suited for long-distance goods transport.

Swap Bodies

They are a type of container that is widely used in Europe. They are not ISO-compliant and are not standardized shipping container units, yet they are incredibly helpful anyway. They have a robust bottom and a detachable top, making them excellent for delivering a variety of items.

Special purpose containers

These are not regular containers, but rather container units designed for specific applications. They are mostly utilized for high-profile services such as weapon shipping and arson. As a result, their design and material composition are determined by the specific purpose they must serve. However, in most circumstances, security is still the first consideration.

Drums

As the name implies, circular shipping containers composed of a variety of materials such as steel, lightweight metals, fiber, hard plastic, and so on are best suited for bulk transport of liquid commodities. They are smaller in size, but owing to their design, they may require additional room.

Car transporters

Car carriers are container storage units designed specifically for the transportation of automobiles across great distances. They have foldable sides that allow an automobile to fit securely inside the containers without risk of harm or movement.

Containers with a half-height

Half-height containers are another type of shipping container. Made mostly of steel, these containers are half the height of full-sized containers. Used mostly for goods such as coal and stones that require easy loading and unloading.

Because purchasing an entire shipping container to transport your items is expensive, most clients choose leasing options.

Hiring: For a monthly fee, a user can utilize a container owned by another party.

Renting: In exchange for payment, one user is permitted to utilize another party's container.

Leasing: There is a mutual agreement in leasing. And, according to the agreement, one user purchases a container and delivers it to another user for a set amount of time.

Renting is the best option!

Most businesses do not use shipping containers daily. Instead, there are selling seasons or specific use cases. What happens when a shipment is completed when storage is no longer necessary? What happens to a bought unit? You must either transfer the cargo container or find an appropriate storage place. Both of these tasks are expensive. Purchasing a shipping container could put you in debt if it is not used on a regular basis. Furthermore, when it comes to renting choices, the amount to be paid is substantially lower.

Things to Consider While Renting Shipping Container

Size of the container

• 10’ Container 

These are the smallest metal shipping containers available. These containers are the least costly solution for cutting shipping management expenses.

• 20-foot Container

These containers are frequently seen at shipyards, company lots, and aboard cargo ships.

• 40-foot container

Despite the fact that a 40′ container costs from $150 to $250 each month, its size means that you should be able to meet all of your storage demands.

Aside from the container's size, several other factors must be considered.

Height

A typical shipping container stands 8 feet 6 inches tall. A high cube container is an option if you want a little more height. These containers provide an extra foot of height (at 9 feet, 6 inches). 

Doors

A conventional shipping container will only have a single door on one end. That structure is ideal for most applications, but there are situations when you want many access points or perhaps a completely open side. Which door style you choose will be determined by the use of the container.

Container Rental Accessories

Here are two of the most often used rental container accessories.

Door handle extenders- to open rusty doors

Ramps- A great storage container ramp will go over the container's lock to make the transition from ground to container floor as smooth as possible.

Conclusion

If we are intending to buy or rent shipping containers, we must have a complete understanding of the many types, sizes, modifications, and so on. Aside from transportation, shipping containers may be used for a variety of purposes, including the construction of container homes.