Container

What is a container?

A container is a steel receptacle used to transport ocean and rail shipments. The modern container was invented in the 1950s by Malcolm P. McLean, who owned a steamship company and wanted to be able to lift a container from a vehicle directly on to a ship without first having to unload its contents.

The incoterm FCA should be used for containerized shipments, instead of the pre-container era incoterm FOB.

Common container sizes include 20,' 40,' 40' High Cube, and 45' High Cube.

Which container type should you choose?

Standard dry containers fit most general cargo. Refrigerated (reefer) containers hold temperature-controlled goods, and open-top or flat-rack containers carry oversize items. High Cube units add about a foot of height. Pick a type based on your cargo's dimensions, weight, and temperature needs, and check the weight limits at the origin and destination.

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