What is an Intermodal Container?

Intermodal Containers are also known as shipping containers, and are the cargo containers that allow goods to be stored for transport in trucks, trains and boats, making intermodal transport possible. They are typically used to transport heavy materials or palletized goods.




Intermodal Containers are used to protect transported cargo from shock and bad weather conditions, as well as keep storage products intact. They were first used in the 1950s and were initially developed for the purpose of commercial shipping.

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Depending on the type of product that is going to be sent, the Intermodal Container can vary in dimension, structure, material, etc. Characteristics of these shipping containers were later standardized, something that expedited transport without the need to load and unload the merchandise along the way.




There are different types of Intermodal Containers for different types of transportation:



Common Types of Intermodal Containers or Shipping Containers

Intermodal Containers are another name for the standard shipping containers most used on the market. Intermodal Containers are typically suitable for any type of dry cargo: pallets, boxes, bags, machines, furniture, etc.



Common types include:



Dry Storage Container

Refrigerated Container

Open top container

Flat rack container

Open Side Container

Tanks Container

Ventilated containers



Dry Storage Intermodal Container

Dry Storage Intermodal shipping containers are your typical standard shipping containers. Basic construction is made of steel, and hermetically sealed, without cooling or ventilation. Sizes typically come in 20 ‘, 40’ or 40 ‘High Cube. The High Cube category facilitates an increase of 13% of the internal cubic capacity and can handle the heaviest loads (coal, tobacco, etc.)



Refrigerated Intermodal Container

Reefer Intermodal Containers provide a temperature-controlled environment. They have a power supply that connects to energy sources during transport. This allows the products to be transported at a constant temperature throughout the journey. They have the possibility to lower temperature from -18 ° to 30 °. There are 20 and 40-foot models, in addition to the High Cube.



This type of Intermodal Container is especially recommended for transporting food or products that need a low storage temperature.



Open Top Intermodal Container

Open Top Intermodal Containers have the same measurements as the standard containers but are open at the top because they have a removable canvas roof. These containers facilitate the transport of bulky loads.



Flat Rack Intermodal Container

Flat Rack Intermodal Containers are like the Open Top, but also lack sidewalls and even, in some cases, front and rear walls. They are used for atypical loads and pay supplements in the same way as Open Top.



Open Side Intermodal Container

Open Side Intermodal Containers have the same measurements as standard containers; 20 or 40 feet, with the difference that they have a side opening. This allows for transporting very long merchandise, whose dimensions prevent it from being loaded by the back door.



Tank Intermodal Container

Tank Intermodal Containers are used for liquid transport and made to carry dangerous as toxic, corrosive, highly combustible chemicals, as well as oil, milk, beers, wine, mineral water, etc. They have the same dimensions as Dry Intermodal Containers, but their structure is different, as they include a polyethylene tank inside.



Ventilated Intermodal Containers

Ventilated Intermodal Containers are made for transporting products such as coffee or cocoa beans, which must be ventilated in transit; sometimes these units are called “coffee containers”.



Intermodal Container

Opening and Closing Tool

An Intermodal Container (also known as Conex Box, ISO Container,Railroad Container, and certain Truck Trailers) is a large standardized shipping container, designed and built for intermodal freight transport. Intermodal Containers can be used across different modes of transport. They can go from ship to rail to truck, without unloading and reloading their cargo.



The metal doors on the shipping containers on containers are standardized. Intermodal Containers use the same type and style of doors and locking bars, which our tool can be used.



Lengths are as follows: 20′, 40′, 45′, 48′, 50′, 53′. All these containers are globally used to transport cargo. The 53′ length is now, the new the standard length.



Here are some likely reasons a Intermodal Container door will not open or close. Our tool helps to address these issues.



Doors and lock rods may warp or the container frame is racked so that the door gear will not operate correctly. This may be caused by cargo shifting during transit. Look at the container to make sure that the doors are aligned and level, both top, and bottom.

The hinge pins and blade are seized due to corrosion.



The door gasket has been damaged and is preventing opening. Door gaskets are designed to present two or more fins against the structure or adjacent door. These are generally flexible but when the gasket is damaged, it may become hard or blocked thus jamming the door closed, or preventing it from being closed.



Water has become trapped between frozen shipping container doors, particularly relevant to refrigerated cargoes, or containers with moisture releasing cargoes in cold weather.



Source: https://www.shippingcontainertool.com/what-is-an-intermodal-container/