| Shipping containers travel in a variety of ways. They | | | | such as open top cars full of coal or rocks. |
| can be used to carry goods overseas by boat or | | | | Shipping by truck requires smaller mobile containers. |
| airplane. They can also be used for land shipping and | | | | There are many standards and rules that all shipping |
| carried by a truck or railroad car. However they get to | | | | venues must obey, but trucks may have the most |
| where they are going, all shipping containers do the | | | | because they work on roads alongside everyday |
| same job, carry goods. There are a multitude of sizes | | | | people. Because of this, most trucks are large, |
| available to do this job. Sometimes the size depends | | | | enclosed storage boxes that have their cargo stashed |
| on what capacity the box travels and sometimes it | | | | from sight. Shipping containers sent this way are often |
| depends solely on the type of goods within. When you | | | | much smaller and often nontraditional to overseas and |
| purchase or rent a shipping container keep in mind that | | | | freight train shipping. Trucks can also have an open |
| you should shop for the one that best fits your shipping | | | | bed chassis to carry some of the more traditional |
| needs, your shipping method and the needs of your | | | | container sizes such as a 20 foot, but they are more |
| items within the container. | | | | likely to carry mini containers. |
| Steel containers are the most common for retail | | | | Air shipping is perhaps the most interesting because it |
| goods. When they are used for overseas shipping | | | | is nothing like the other types of shipping. Air shippers |
| they are anywhere from 8 feet to 45 feet with the | | | | make their own rules and have their own container |
| most common sizes being 20 feet and 40 feet. These | | | | sizes that are labeled in a much different way. The |
| number measurements indicate the outside length. The | | | | most common are the LD series. Sizes for this series |
| standard outside width and height is 8 feet. The inside | | | | are designated by LD and a number from 1 to 29. |
| dimensions may depend on the thickness of the walls | | | | There are four main types of containers shipped by |
| and roof, so be sure to check before you buy a | | | | air: pallets that are great for conveyor belts, contoured |
| container. | | | | containers which allow secure protection of goods, |
| Containers for land based shipping tend to be smaller | | | | lower deck containers that fit into the lower deck of |
| and not necessarily made from metal. Plastic drum | | | | an airplane that is already filled with other goods, and |
| containers can be used for both land based and | | | | box like containers that often hold other containers. |
| overseas shipping because they can carry liquids. If | | | | Unlike the other types of shipping where weather is a |
| shipping by boat or airplane, these drums may even be | | | | factor, containers shipped by air are often more of a |
| packed inside a larger shipping box. For items shipped | | | | variety of materials. However you ship your goods, be |
| by railroad, the large metal containers common in | | | | sure to check the shipping container sizes for that |
| overseas shipping are useful. The size 40 container is | | | | method of shipping. You will find that some containers |
| used frequently as two can be stacked on each | | | | can be used for assorted venues, but you will need to |
| flatbed car. The great thing about shipping by train is | | | | know where the norm is not applicable. |
| that an entire car can be one big container for goods | | | | |