Types of Containers
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Container types
Cargo units used in maritime transport are large containers used to transport various materials on board ships. Their introduction represented a significant revolution in the transport industry, as we will see below.We will also explore the different types of containers available and their respective features, allowing you to make more informed decisions about them. Containers come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and lengths, although they often meet similar dimensional standards in many cases. It is also important to note that these containers can come in different types: some may lack a roof or walls, while others may feature wheels or be collapsible for easy transport when empty.Through our turnkey project service, GMR Global Trans will take care of all the logistical aspects of your industrial project, from the moment of contracting to the successful delivery of the cargo.
How to choose the shipping container?
The constant evolution of shipping containers has significantly expanded the options available on the market today. These options have considerably simplified loading and unloading operations. However, it is crucial to select the most suitable option according to the needs of the goods and the size among the dimensions available for each model.For this reason, and thanks to the vast experience of GMR Global Trans, you can count on a highly trained team that will help you choose the most suitable option for each type of cargo, guaranteeing efficient and safe logistics. Choosing the right container not only impacts the safety and protection of the cargo, but also the operating costs, transit time and efficiency in port operations. A correct selection guarantees that the available space is used to its full potential and that risks are minimized during the journey.
Standard Container
These container models have dimensions of 20′ and 40′, respectively. They have been designed for the transport of dry goods. Among these goods, pellets or bags stand out, among others. There is also the option of choosing the High Cube 40′, which has a length similar to the Standard 40′, but with a slightly higher box height.
Generally, Standard 40′ boxes are chosen for all kinds of merchandise, although they have also been seen to have more original functions. Some people have decided to use them to move to other continents and use them to transport all their belongings and thus keep most of their furniture in the new home. Other options are those that make these containers transform into usable spaces for stands.
Standard 20′
- Internal Length: 19’4″ (5,900 m)
- Internal Width: 7’8″ (2,350 m)
- Internal Height: 7’1″ (2,393 m)
- Gate Width: 7’8″ (2.342 m)
- Gate Height: 7’6″ (2.280 m)
- Capacity: 1,172 Cft (33.2 Cu.m)
- Tare Weight: 4,916 Lbs (2,230 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 47,900 Lbs (21,770 Kgs)
Standard 40′
- Internal Length: 39’5″ (12,036 m)
- Internal Width: 7’8″ (2,350 m)
- Internal Height: 7’1″ (2,393 m)
- Gate Width: 7’8″ (2.342 m)
- Gate Height: 7’6″ (2.280 m)
- Capacity: 2,390 Cft (67.7 Cu.m)
- Tare Weight: 8,160 Lbs (3,700 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 59,040 Lbs (26,780 Kgs)
Open Top Container
The main feature of all Open Top models is the way the door opens. In fact, these containers have no door and no roof at the top. This makes it much easier to load the material from the top of the box. To protect it, a tarpaulin is generally used to cover all the goods once they are placed in the container.
Open Top models are also available in the same dimensions as the Standard and Upgraded models. The most commonly used are the Open Top 20′ and the Open Top 40′.
Open Top 20′
- Internal Length: 17’8″ (5,425 m)
- Internal Width: 7’5″ (2,275 m)
- Internal Height: 7’5″ (2,260 m)
- Gate Width: 7’5″ (2.258 m)
- Gate Height: 7’3″ (2.216 m)
- Capacity: 1,000 Cft (28.3 Cu.m)
- Tare Weight: 7,040 Lbs (3,200 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 45,760 Lbs (20,800 Kgs)
Open Top 40′
- Internal Length: 37’8″ (11,493 m)
- Internal Width: 7’5″ (2,270 m)
- Internal Height: 7’2″ (2,197 m)
- Door Width: 7’5″ (2.282 m)
- Gate Height: 7’1″ (2.155 m)
- Capacity: 2,040 Cft (57.8 Cu.m)
- Tare Weight: 10,780 Lbs (4,900 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 56,276 Lbs (25,580 Kgs)
Reefer 40′ - High Cube
- Internal Length: 37’11″ (11,557 m)
- Internal Width: 7’6″ (2,294 m)
- Internal Height: 8’2″ (2,500 m)
- Door Width: 7’6″ (2.294 m)
- Gate Height: 8’0″ (2,440 m)
- Capacity: 2,344 Cft (66.6 Cu.m)
- Tare Weight: 9,900 Lbs (4,500 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 57,561 Lbs (25,980 Kgs)
Reefer Container
The reefer container or refrigerated container is a type of intermodal container that is equipped with a refrigeration engine that enables the transport of temperature-sensitive goods.
Reefer 20′
- Internal Length: 17’8″ (5,425 m)
- Internal Width: 7’5″ (2,275 m)
- Internal Height: 7’5″ (2,260 m)
- Gate Width: 7’5″ (2.258 m)
- Gate Height: 7’3″ (2.216 m)
- Capacity: 1,000 Cft (28.3 Cu.m)
- Tare Weight: 7,040 Lbs (3,200 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 45,760 Lbs (20,800 Kgs)
Reefer 40′
- Internal Length: 37’8″ (11,493 m)
- Internal Width: 7’5″ (2,270 m)
- Internal Height: 7’2″ (2,197 m)
- Door Width: 7’5″ (2.282 m)
- Gate Height: 7’1″ (2.155 m)
- Capacity: 2,040 Cft (57.8 Cu.m)
- Tare Weight: 10,780 Lbs (4,900 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 56,276 Lbs (25,580 Kgs)
Reefer 40′ - High Cube
- Internal Length: 37’11″ (11,557 m)
- Internal Width: 7’6″ (2,294 m)
- Internal Height: 8’2″ (2,500 m)
- Door Width: 7’6″ (2.294 m)
- Gate Height: 8’0″ (2,440 m)
- Capacity: 2,344 Cft (66.6 Cu.m)
- Tare Weight: 9,900 Lbs (4,500 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 57,561 Lbs (25,980 Kgs)
Flat Rack Container
Within the container options, there are models such as Flat Rack 20′, Flat Rack 40′, Flat Rack Collapsible 20′ and Flat Rack Collapsible 40′ Stack Bed. The distinctive feature of these models is that, like the Open Top container, they lack a roof and side walls. They are composed of a base and two smaller side walls.
These containers are specifically designed to transport objects of oversized and varied dimensions, which do not have a defined shape. To secure the goods inside the container, plastics, chains or straps are used to prevent movement during transport.
Some examples of goods that can be transported in these containers include heavy machinery used in agriculture or construction, such as excavators or tractors.
Flat Rack 20′
- Internal Length: 18’5″ (5,620 m)
- Internal Width: 7’3″ (2,200 m)
- Internal Height: 7’4″ (2,233 m)
- Tare Weight: 5,578 Lbs (2,530 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 47,333 Lbs (21,470 Kgs)
Flat Rack 40′
- Internal Length: 39’7″ (12,080 m)
- Internal Width: 6’1″ (2,438 m)
- Internal Height: 6’5″ (2,130 m)
- Tare Weight: 12,081 Lbs (5,480 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 85,800 Lbs (39,000 Kgs)
Flat Rack Collapsible 20′
- Internal Length: 18’6″ (5,618 m)
- Internal Width: 7’3″ (2,208 m)
- Internal Height: 7’4″ (2,233 m)
- Tare Weight: 6,601 Lbs (2,750 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 61,117 Lbs (27,730 Kgs)
Flat Rack Collapsible 40′ Stack Bed
- Internal Length: 39’7″ (12,080 m)
- Internal Width: 6’1″ (2,126 m)
- Internal Height: 6’5″ (2,043 m)
- Tare Weight: 12,787 Lbs (5,800 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 85,800 Lbs (39,000 Kgs)
Upgraded Container
This type of Upgraded 20′ container is similar in dimensions to the Standard 20′. However, it has the peculiarity that goods with a higher weight can be introduced. Therefore, they are indicated for all types of goods that have a higher density.
As for the choice of the High Cube, this extra space in height allows it to be used for other types of goods. They are useful for the construction of air conditioning, heating or ventilation solutions. In addition, they can also be used to transport large office supplies or furniture and appliances that do not fit in standard containers.
Upgraded 20′
- Internal Length: 19’4″ (5,900 m)
- Internal Width: 7’7″ (2,311 m)
- Internal Height: 7’1″ (2,390 m)
- Door Width: 7’6″ (2.286 m)
- Gate Height: 7’6″ (2.280 m)
- Capacity: 1,150 Cft (32.63 Cu.m)
- Tare Weight: 5,060 Lbs (2,300 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 61,996 Lbs (28,180 Kgs)
Upgraded 40′ - High Cube
- Internal Length: 39’5″ (12,036 m)
- Internal Width: 7’8″ (2,350 m)
- Internal Height: 8’1″ (2,338 m)
- Gate Width: 7’8″ (2.342 m)
- Gate Height: 8’5″ (2.585 m)
- Capacity: 2,694 Cft (76.3 Cu.m)
- Tare Weight: 8,750 Lbs (3,970 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 58,450 Lbs (26,510 Kgs)
Platform Container
In this case, we are referring again to two of the most common dimensions: 20′ and 40′. These containers are designed with only the base, without walls, unlike the Open Top and Flat Rack models. As in the previous cases, straps or chains are used to secure the merchandise to the base.
This type of container is used to transport materials or goods that cannot be adapted to the standard dimensions of a box, such as a large glass pane or part of a wind turbine blade. In short, these are very specific loads that, for various reasons, cannot be accommodated in any of the containers mentioned above.
Loading these goods is the easiest of all, as you can use forklifts or other equipment without worrying about walls or doors that might hinder the process.
Platform 20′
- Internal Length: 19’11” (6,058 m)
- Internal Width: 8’0″ (2,438 m)
- Internal Height: 7’4″ (2,233 m)
- Tare Weight: 6,061 Lbs (2,750 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 52,896 Lbs (24,000 Kgs)
Platform 40′
Chassis Container
To describe the Chassis model, we can refer to the previous model that consisted only of the base (Platform). In this case, the Chassis adds a crucial element: wheels that make transportation much easier. To achieve this, four double wheels are included at one end to move the platform of different dimensions in feet: 23’5, 33′ Tri-Axie and 40′ Gooseneck.
Again, it is important to properly secure the load on these bases by using straps and lashings to ensure safe transport at all times. Goods of varying and poorly defined size can be placed on this base.
Chassis 23’5
- Overall Length (unextended): 23’6″ (7.2 m)
- Tare Weight: 6,600 Lbs (2,995 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 35,500 Lbs (16,100 Kgs)
- Overall Length (Extended): 27’2″ (8.3 m)
- Tare Weight: 6,600 Lbs (2,995 Kgs)
- Maximum load: 39,500 Lbs (17,920 Kgs)
Chassis 33′ Tri-Axie
Chassis 40′ Gooseneck
In short, shipping containers represented a major advance in the transportation of goods between different countries and continents. Although they were initially intended for military purposes, today they are used for a wide range of products.
We hope that this analysis of each type of container will help you choose the most suitable one for your needs. It is crucial to consider the nature of the goods from the outset, as well as their dimensions. In case it does not fit perfectly into the container, it will be necessary to reinforce its transport with tarpaulins or chains.
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