International Container Shipping
When making global or international shipments on a large scale, often the most cost effective choice is an ocean shipment. Ocean shipments will utilize what is called a container. These international containers come in various sizes shapes and forms. Each one is designed for the specific needs of your cargo or freight.
The container will be transported across land by a tractor trailer with a set of tandems or wheels attached to a frame mounted under the container. The containers are standard dock height and can be loaded just as any other tractor trailer - with a forklift. They also offer open top containers that can be loaded with a sky crane if needed. If your cargo is temperature sensitive - such as produce - a reefer or refrigerated container is also available.
If you don't have access to a loading dock and the freight you wish to ship globally - via the ocean - is less than a container load, there is a service offered that is called container freight station or CFS. The CFS will consolidate several "less than container" loads to take better advantage of the space available - usually saving the shipper money in the long run.
A 20' container can handle 36,000 lbs while a 40' container can handle 43,000 lbs. The listed weights are just a guide line for what the containers are capable of holding - the real restrictions are often the weight limitations of the roads that the tractor trailer will be traveling on. Different countries and states will have different regulations regarding how heavy a load can be legally transported without getting special permits. If a load exceeds the regulated weight limit hefty fines can be incurred.
The containers, much like trailers, come in various lengths and heights. Some of the standard sizes that you will often see on the highways are twenty foot, forty foot and forty five foot containers.
The tractor trailers will transport the containers to the port of origin. There the container will be lifted off the tractor and tandems with a crane. Usually the containers will be stored for a time until the ship is ready to be loaded.
When selecting the international container shipping service, you will be asked if you want above deck or below deck. This refers to where the container will be loaded on the ship. A below deck shipment will be loaded in the hull of the ship and will be kept dry and out of the weather. An above deck shipment will be secured to the deck of the ship and will often be exposed to salt water and any weather conditions that might occur during the shipment. While it is claimed that the containers are waterproof, occasionally you will encounter one that has been handled roughly and is no longer watertight.
Every container has a unique identification system that allows the shipping companies to easily locate and confirm a shipment. All containers are marked on the top left hand side with four letters followed by six numeric digits and one check number.
