Why is cargo shipped in standardized containers

The idea of shipping boxes that could be loaded onto trucks, moved to trains or ships and then loaded back onto trucks was conceived by a small time truck hauler from Maxton, North Carolina, by the name of Malcolm McLean. On a trip to deliver cargo to the Port of Hoboken, he had to wait half the day while the trucks in front of him were unloaded piece by piece and then loaded on to the ships. It struck him that the cargo could remain in the trucks and the trucks containers could be placed on the ships. It took him another 15 years and many hurdles including the purchase of a small shipping company to realize his dream.
By reducing the time and expense of loading a truck with goods and then unloading and loading those goods on to ships only to repeat the process at the port of destination, McLean greatly improved the process by removing the loaded container from the chassis. To enhance the process even more and in order to stack the containers in a more efficient manner, the next step was to standardize the size of the containers so that all trucks, trains, ships and ports around the word, could handle the containers. The first container shipment left Newark on April 26, 1956, carrying 58 containers, 35’X8’X8′ (The 35 foot length was the standard for trucks at that time) and travelled to Houston aboard the modified tanker ship with the auspicious name of Ideal X. It took another decade and the help of the United States Navy for the container to evolve into an international standard called the ISO (industrial standards organization) shipping container.

This standardization had global impact on world trade because it allowed manufacturers to load goods at the factories and ship directly to stores and warehouses without having to unload and transfer cargo along the way.
This one innovation substantially impacted globalization because shipping became so inexpensive that manufacturing could locate far from customers, bringing consumers an unimaginable variety of low cost goods from anywhere in the world. Currently, there are 5,000 freighters carrying over 14 million containers to ports all over the world.

How to determine what type of container suits your needs

ISO standard containers have been customized to meet the demands exporters and importers in international trade. With 12 different types of ISO containers and a variety of sizes within those types, it is possible to ship everything from bulk grains and raw materials to perishable commodities.

How to Identify Your Shipping Container

All shipping containers have serial numbers that serve as an identifying mark that helps shippers and freight forwarders track containers as they move through the shipping process. The identifying mark will look like this:

• The first three letters are the owner code, which is an abbreviation for the name of the owner of the container and is registered with the ICB (International Container Bureau.)
• The fourth letter is the product code: U for all freight containers; J for detachable freight container equipment and; Z for trailers and chassis.
• Registration # is a 6 digit number that has been assigned by the owner operator to each container in their fleet.
• Check digit # is a single digit number highlighted in a box. This is a control number used to verify the owner, product code, and serial number.

There will also be an identifying code for the type of container, the tare weight (which is the weight of the empty container), gross weight and maximum payload.

How to Book a Non-standard Container

When shipping over-sized cargo, the dimensions and weight will determine which container type will accommodate your shipment. This information and a photograph or a spec sheet must be submitted to the freight forwarder, who will handle the booking with the shipping company. They will give you a detailed assessment of fees and they will customize the solution for your cargo.

The Different of Shipping Containers and Their Specifications

The 20-foot Dry Container Specifications:

The 20-foot Flat Rack Container Specifications:

The 20-foot Open-Top Container Specifications:

The 20-foot Ventilated Container Specifications:

20-foot Refrigerated Container:

40-foot General Purpose Dry Container:

40-foot Open Top Container:

40-foot High Cube Container:

The 40-foot Flat Rack Container:

The 40-foot Refrigerated Container Specifications:

The 45-foot High Cube General Purpose Container:

20-Foot Tank Container: