Shipping Containers Key Terms

Get to know your shipping container industry terms to save time and trouble

People familiar with the shipping business and shipping containers often use terms the average business person isn't familiar with. This can cause confusion, and waste time that could otherwise be spent selecting features or finalizing purchases of cargo containers. Knowing industry terms can improve and speed up searches and product comparisons, among other things.

You're unlikely to hear terms like International Organization for Standardization (ISO) containers or Intermodal Transport Unit (ITU) used by anybody not working with cargo container suppliers. Most shipping containers meet ISO guidelines, which is why they are often called ISO containers. ITU often refers to containers that are used on multiple forms of transit. These terms are sometimes used instead of the term shipping container.

1. Different types of shipping containers can have specific terms. If you're looking for a certain kind of shipping container, make sure you know the terms associated with that particular type, not just the average shipping container.

2. Businesses using overseas shipping containers may use different terminology. If you plan to work with a company from another country, check its terms.

3. Even related items, like pallets and locks can have different terms associated with them.

Pick a dry van shipping container for general transport

Dry van shipping containers are used for shipping boxes, cartons, pallets, sacks and other common goods. This is the most commonly used type of shipping container, and it works well for shipping most things. Some dry vans can be taller or wider than average, depending on the country they originate from. Dry vans are usually the most economical shipping container solution, so dry van is among the more common shipping containers key terms.

Purchase reefers, or refrigerated freight containers for temperature-sensitive goods

Reefers are temperature controlled insulated shipping containers. This type of shipping container is often used to carry perishable goods like meat and other temperature-sensitive cargo. These storage units often use electrical outlets to keep the temperature even at land-based sites and switch to diesel powered generators when on the road. Reefers can be transported by truck, ship or train.

Use bulktainers for transporting minerals and bulk materials

Bulktainers are shipping containers used to send large amounts of items like gravel, pellets or heavy machinery. This type of shipping container is usually open on top, allowing for easy removal of bulk items. The open top also allows you to ship unusually tall items, because they can just stick out. Often, a tarp is used to cover bulktainers during shipping, to ensure that the cargo does not fly out.

• When buying shipping containers, it's always good to make sure the cargo containers for sale are ISO approved. Otherwise, you may be out of luck if you need to send your goods in a different country or by an alternate method of transportation.

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