Shipping Containers Types | Buy Cargo Containers Texas

1. Most Common Shipping Container Types you Must Know | LOTUS Containers Shipping containers known as the indisputable king of the logistics and supply chain has given the world a new life. The world before the advent of these steel boxes was definitely on the urge to grow and evolve but the growth was taking place at a very slow pace. The invention of shipping containers dates back to 1956 when an American truck entrepreneur, Malcolm McLean, stood firm on the old said quote- ‘Necessity is the Mother of Invention’. He noticed people waiting for hours and days to load their goods on the deck. McLean considered the loading of each cargo separately on the deck as a foolish idea and thought why not load the entire truck at one go. No one believed the velocity of his thought at that time but that very silly idea later gave rise to a more economical and customized transportation of freight over long roaring seas with much ease. Ever since its invention, the container industry has evolved to a great extent giving shippers and businesses a plethora of different container types. These have not just given the world options to choose from but have made the possibility to transport anything. From machines, construction

2. materials, foods, chemicals, to even biological products like organ and blood- each product have now their own container type. Laying down the list of top 12 different container types you must know Dry Van: Dry van is also known as the standard container is considered as the most versatile container type and is used for the storage and transportation of a wide range of products including heavy and bulky cargoes. It opens at the rear and has two leaf doors allowing easy access to loading and unloading of goods. Pallet Wide: Pallet wide container is slightly wider than the standard shipping boxes allowing three to six pallets more to accommodate in it allowing better stowage and reducing the risk of cargo slipping. Double Door: Unlike other shipping boxes, a double door specializes with its both side opening facility. These containers are very durable and the doors at both ends make the loading of goods seamless and flexible. Side Door: These are the containers whose one side along the length can be fully or partially opened allowing easy accessibility of goods. The sides are made either of steel or tarpaulin. Open Top:These got the name ‘open-top’ because their roof is made up of tarpaulin instead of a solid ceiling. The roof can be opened and goods can be loaded from the top through a crane and forklift. Hard Top Open Top: These are almost similar in function to the open-top containers the only difference is that it offers some added benefit. For the cargo exceeding the height of the boxes, these are the best. In such a case, the removable top roof is removed entirely and is placed along the wall of one side. Flat Rack Containers: Flat rack is one of the most versatile container types allowing the storage and transportation of heavy and wide cargoes with utmost flexibility as they have only two walls

3. at their shorter sides. They come in two different types- collapsible and non-collapsible. The two ends of the collapsible flat rack can be removed and used as a platform. Platform: Platform containers have the only floor and no walls. These are similar to the flat rack containers but unlike them, they can also accommodate cargoes that exceed the surface area. Insulated Containers: To transport temperature-sensitive products these containers stand at the forefront. They do not have any refrigeration unit but their insulated packing helps them to maintain temperature for long. Reefers: Unlike insulated containers, reefer containers have an inbuilt refrigeration unit and thus can maintain temperature ranging from -25°C to +30°C. Stuff like chemicals, organs, blood, dry ice, and other temperature-sensitive product can be easily transported in them. Bulkers: These containers are specifically designed for the transportation of goods like grains, malts, coffee beans, sand, etc. The goods are loaded via a small opening on its roof and discharged via small hatches below the doors. Tankers: Tankers have given away to liquid and gaseous cargoes that cannot be transported in any other container. They carry products ranging from oils, gases to hazardous chemicals.