Choose the Right Container: How Much Can a Container Carry?

Large-scale logistics needs tools such as containers to distribute goods efficiently and meet the demands of global trade. Here is what you need to know.

What is a container?

Containers are storage units used to transport goods across the different modes of transport, with ocean shipping being the most common.

This type of large box is endorsed by bodies such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as the best way to move goods reliably and safely.

Today, the diversity of international trade has led the container to reinvent itself, meeting suppliers' requirements in terms of type and specific features to carry practically everything that can be traded around the world.

A container for every kind of cargo

Since the container arrived in the mid-20th century, its structure and design have evolved into the models we have today.

The dry container, or dry van, is the most widely used type in trade: it carries 90% of all goods worldwide. It is used exclusively for dry cargo such as food, clothing, toys or any product that does not require special temperature handling or other controls.

They come in 20ft and 40ft lengths and are built with steel and aluminum in both the walls and the floor to support as much weight as possible.

The 20ft unit is 5.9 m (19.4 ft) long inside, with a payload of about 25,000 kg (55,100 lb) and a cubic capacity of 33.2 m³ (1,172 cu ft). The internal width and height are 2.35 x 2.39 m (7.7 x 7.8 ft), and the door opening is 2.30 x 2.28 m (7.5 x 7.5 ft).

The 40ft unit is 12.03 m (39.5 ft) long inside, with a payload of about 27,600 kg (60,800 lb) and a cubic capacity of 67 m³ (2,366 cu ft). The internal width and height are 2.35 x 2.39 m (7.7 x 7.8 ft), and the door opening is 2.34 x 2.28 m (7.7 x 7.5 ft).

Refrigerated container

Refrigerated containers are used to transport goods that must be kept at a specific temperature during transit. Also called reefers, they are used to ship perishable food, fruit, meat and dairy products, plants and flowers, among others.

The container has a built-in refrigeration unit powered by electricity from the ship, the port or the truck.

Among the most common types are 20ft reefers, with a payload of about 27,400 kg (60,400 lb) and a cubic capacity of 28.3 m³ (1,000 cu ft). 40ft reefers have a payload of about 27,700 kg (61,100 lb) and a cubic capacity of 59.3 m³ (2,094 cu ft).

Platform container

This is the recommended option for moving heavy, large products with long dimensions that exceed those of a conventional container. It is used for special cargo such as cables, drums, heavy machinery, timber and pipes.

Platforms come in 20ft and 40ft, but many sizes are available to suit each shipper's needs.

Other types of containers

• High cube, for high-volume cargo.
• Open top, with a removable tarpaulin roof for oversized goods such as timber or scrap.
• Flat rack, also used to carry oversized cargo, as well as livestock.

With all these options, freight transport has a whole range of storage units available to meet the demands of an increasingly bold and competitive market. We hope you found this information useful.

You may also like: Learn which container to use for your type of cargo

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