Transport of shipping containers
Key information and concepts
Shipping container transport is a complex process that involves various modes of transport and logistics services. This article provides a basic overview of the key concepts and processes involved in container shipping. This will give you a better understanding of the opportunities and benefits this form of transport offers.
Key concepts
Shipping container
A shipping container is a standardized container used to transport goods by sea, road or rail. Containers are available in various sizes, the most common being 20′ and 40′ containers.
Container transport
Container transport involves the transport of goods by means of shipping containers. This form of transport is efficient and safe, making it an ideal choice for international trade.
International container transport
International container shipping focuses on the transportation of goods between different countries. It uses a combination of sea, road and rail transport to achieve the most efficient movement of goods.
Domestic transport of containers
Domestic container transport focuses on the transport of goods within a single country. It is often used to distribute goods from a port to a destination.
Container chassis
Container chassis are special semi-trailers designed to transport shipping containers. There are different types of chassis suitable for transporting several container sizes, including 20′, 40′ and 45′.
GPS tracking
GPS tracking is a technology that allows you to track the location of vehicles during transport. This technology ensures the safety and efficiency of transport by enabling real-time route monitoring.
Euro 6 emission standards
The Euro 6 emission standards are strict European standards for pollutant emissions from vehicles. Vehicles that meet these standards produce fewer harmful emissions, which helps to protect the environment.
The process of transporting shipping containers
Loading and unloading
The transport process begins with the loading of the goods into the container at the point of origin. After transport to the port, the container is loaded onto a ship and transported to the destination port. After unloading at the port of destination, the container is transported to the place of destination where it is unloaded.
Road transport
Road transport plays a key role in the transport of shipping containers, especially in the transfer of containers from the wharf to their destination. Specialised container chassis and professional drivers ensure safe and efficient transport.
International transport
International shipping of shipping containers often involves a combination of sea, road and rail transport. Each mode of transport has its own specific advantages and is used according to the specific transport requirements.
Advantages of shipping containers
Safety and reliability
Shipping containers are very safe thanks to the robust construction of the containers and modern technologies such as GPS tracking. This ensures that the goods arrive at their destination safely and on time.
Flexibility
Container transport offers a high degree of flexibility. Containers can easily be transported by different types of transport and adapted to the specific needs of customers.
Economic Advantage
Thanks to standardisation and efficient use of space, the cost of transporting shipping containers is often lower than for other forms of transport. This makes it an economically viable option for many companies.
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What Is a Shipping Container? The Ultimate Definitive Guide
A shipping container is a standardized, reusable steel box engineered to transport goods safely across multiple modes of transportation — ship, rail, and truck — without ever unloading the cargo inside. Also known as an ISO container, intermodal container, freight container, cargo container, sea van, dry box, or conex box, the shipping container is the invisible backbone of the global economy. More than 90% of everything you buy — from the smartphone in your pocket to the coffee in your cup — spent at least part of its journey inside one of these rectangular steel boxes.
Used Shipping Container: Grades, Costs, Inspection & More
A used shipping container delivers the same structural steel integrity as a new unit at 30–50% lower cost. For most storage, farming, job-site, and budget conversion applications, the right used container — properly graded and inspected — provides equal functional value with meaningfully lower upfront investment. This guide covers every decision you’ll face: grades, pricing, inspection, delivery, lifespan, and the mistakes that cost buyers thousands.
40ft Open Side Container
A 40ft open side container is a specialized ISO shipping container in which one full 40-foot long wall is replaced with bi-fold or multi-panel doors that swing open to provide unobstructed access along the entire side of the unit. Unlike a standard shipping container — where the only way in is through the 7-foot-8-inch-wide double doors at one end — an open side container lets you reach every pallet, every piece of equipment, and every inch of stored cargo from the side, without ever having to dig through layers of inventory. The standard end doors remain intact, giving you two fundamentally different access modes in a single unit.
20 Foot shipping container
A 20 foot shipping container is the single most important unit of measurement in global trade. It is the backbone of intermodal logistics, the standard by which every container ship, port terminal, and freight rate is measured, and — increasingly — a building block for homes, offices, and creative architecture. Despite its ubiquity, most people who encounter a 20 foot shipping container know surprisingly little about what defines it, how it came to be, and what it can actually do.