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What are intermodal containers? | LOTUS Containers

The term ‘Intermodal’ refers to the utilization of two or more than two modes of transportation. In logistics and supply chain, the term Intermodal containers have great importance as cargo transportation is benefited tremendously from this container type.

An Intermodal Container is a large standardized shipping boxes, designed and manufactured to be able to be transported over various means of transportation including rail, road, and water. It somewhat helps to get rid of the multiple loading and unloading and provides fast-paced cargo shipping. It is primarily used for the storage and transportation of goods and securely in a global containerized intermodal freight shipment system.

Dimensional structure

In terms of its size, it measures 8ft height wise and 8ft breadth wise with either 20ft or 40ft lengths wise. Alternatively, it can also measure 10ft height-wise, 9ft breadthwise, and length ranging maximum to 53 feet. Any box non adhering to this dimensional requirement is failed to be considered as an intermodal container.

Its load-carrying capacitance is measured in terms of TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). TEU refers to the quantity of cargo a 20ft shipping container with a breadth of 8ft can hold. Each intermodal container bears the ISO Certification along with coded details of the shipping company owning it. Its basic dimensions and permissible gross weights are largely determined by two ISO standards- ISO 668 & ISO 1496 

Benefits of using intermodal containers

Shippers are using intermodal for a variety of reasons. In various rail corridors, it provides a much better value proposition than the highway. Rail transportation is considered to be an eco-friendly mode of transportation. It is more energy-efficient. Hence, transporting through rail means you’re saving more on cost.

1.You save yourself from extra hassle: With an intermodal container, you do not have to worry about the loading and unloading of cargoes multiple times. All you do is load it one time and get them unloaded after reaching the final destination. In between, whatever times the modes of transportation are changed, your cargo would be safe because the container possesses safety on road, rail, and sea as well. Neither you have to worry about your cargo, nor carrier company would have to worry because they have to keep their team ever ready for arranging cranes, forklift, scanner machines, etc.

2.You save on time: With less loading and unloading the container reaching to you will be on time. In a general container, goods are loaded from one box to another during the change of transporting medium. The multiple operations eat up a lot of time. Therefore, with the intermodal container, you can keep yourself safeguarded from such things. 

3.You save on money: With less operation involved, you do not have to pay much. All you have to pay is the basic amount required for freight transportation. The amount which is generated in the name of other operations like-transferring goods from one box to another gets completely vanish when you ship your cargo in an intermodal container.

4.Offer safety: In the case of an intermodal container, you load your cargo at the port of origin and unload at the port of destination. During the entire transition, your cargo is not touched by any operator that ensures the ultimate safety of your goods. While in a normal container, you never how the operators handle your cargo during the change of the medium. Intermodal containers also eliminate the risk of any leakage or damage to your belongings because of the strict ISO guidelines and regulations.

When you have so many benefits associated with this why go for another one. Afterall your belongings need to be safe during the entire transition. AT LOTUS Containers, we help you and guide you in buying the right shipping containers for your freight transportation.
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