How To Select A Standard Shipping Container

Selecting the right shipping container can be difficult. With so many options, sizes, and conditions available, picking the one that suits your needs requires thorough research and time. This process can be intimidating for someone with little to no knowledge about containers. So, we are here to make your life easy and help you select the right shipping container.

Factors to Consider While Selecting a Container

Here are some important factors to consider while selecting a standard shipping container –

A port with cranes and shipping containers of various sizes and colors.

Image by Andrea Musto from Pexels

1. Usage Period

You need to decide how long you intend to use the container. It will help you decide on the kind of container to use. For instance, renting is more practical than purchasing if you want the container for a short time. For longer use, you should look into buying one. You can always rent or sell the container if your usage is cut short.

2. Size & Load

This is probably the most important factor. Shipping containers come in a variety of sizes. It is better to look into the sizes before you get one.

The most common sizes for standard containers are 20 and 40 feet. If you have a small load of products, 20ft ones will work. For more products, you need to look into the bigger ones. Moreover, there are height issues. For out-of-garage items, go with high cube containers.

You also need to check the payload capacity of the said containers. Even if your products can be arranged inside a 20ft container, you may needed higher load capacity. So choose the container that matches both your height and weight requirements. Read our detailed write-up on container size to help you with the selection.

3. Product type

Which type of container you need largely depends on your product type. A liquid and a dry product will not need the same container type. Besides, out-of-garage products will need the container to meet some specifications to fit in. We will discuss more on this in the later part of this article.

4. Insulation

Insulating your container is a good idea for perishable and temperature-sensitive products. Most items are, in one way or another, affected by temperature. Insulation can solve that problem. It is important to know about the container's age, your spending limit, and the weather it will experience etc. while insulating.

5. Adjustment

There are several types of standard containers. There are cube containers, ocean shipping containers, standard dry containers, and flat rack containers. Each has its own features. You need to find one that suits your needs. Don't depend on modifying or customizing if you are on a budget. You might need to spend a hefty deal to buy, maintain and work with the container. So, choose accordingly.

6. Security

Your shipping containers will include products worth thousands of bucks. So, it is important to ensure the highest security. If the container will be stored at a remote or unsupervised place, you might need to install a metal lockbox to protect the padlock.

7. Your budget

Last but not the least. This is one of the most important factor. You need to make sure the container is up to the mark. But you also have to make sure everything fits in your budget. If you supposedly need two of the 20ft containers to carry your freight, you may check if one 40ft container can accomodate your products. Then choose the better option based on your spending capability.

How To Calculate Freight Size

Exact measurements help the owners plan the cargo or shipment without any unwanted surprises. Incorrect measurements may result in delays and higher fees. There are different ways to measure freight.

Learn how you can measure your shipments' freight below.

Dimension

The physical dimensions include length, width, and height.

For length, measure the longest side of the pallet. In case the cargo extends beyond the pallet, measure including the overhang.
The width is the other edge of the pallet.
To measure the height, you must start from the bottom of the pallet to the tallest part of the freight.

You can use our length converter if you need to convert units.

Weight

The weight is the weight of your shipment, including the packaging and pallet.

Girth

The carriers decide on their price based on the girth measurements. You can calculate the girth easily from the length, width, and height. Add the width and height and multiply it by two and add length to that sum. Now you have the girth of your pallet. The equation is as follows.

Girth = Length + 2 x (Width + Height)

How To Choose Container for Fresh Vegetables

Fresh vegetables are perishable products. When choosing a container for transporting these perishable products, it is important to consider the temperature. It is the most crucial part. Or else the vegetables would rot with the fluctuating temperature.

Refrigerated or reefer containers are usually used to transport perishable products. Some of the fresh vegetables need to be transported at a certain lower temperature. Reefer containers can maintain that temperature for the entire duration. The refrigeration unit keeps the temperature stable. By doing this, these containers can retain the freshness of the vegetables.

How To Choose Container for Live Animals

Shipping animals differs from standard shipping. You need to follow specific regulations and instructions. When choosing a container for live cargo, ensure that it has ventilation openings, a placer bar, and a permanent door lock for the container.

Live Animals need a great deal of care and safety measures. The journey needs to be as smooth as possible to ensure little disruption to them.

Law And Regulations for Live Animals Transportation

IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) has set specific requirements for live shipping cargo.

Construction Requirements: The container must be sturdy and closed to ensure safety.
Ventilation Requirements: The container must be adequately ventilated on all sides. Read the specific requirements by IATA Live Animals Regulations for detailed requirements.
Safety Requirements: Safety must be ensured at all times according to LAR regulations.
Food and Water Requirements: Food and water should be provided from time to time to livestock.
Pet Containers: IATA does not approve of pet containers.

The owner must pay close attention to the laws and regulations set by LAR.

How To Choose a Container for Transporting Liquid

Transportation of liquids has become more popular with the onset of new solutions being available. There are different kinds of shipping containers available for different types of liquid. For instance, you cannot use standard cargo containers or standard flat rack containers for explosive substances.

Moreover, it's not just spilling and making a mess; it's about protecting the liquid from various issues. For example, shipping wine, you need to ensure it doesn't go bad. Also, there are chances of contamination from the container itself.

Long containers in various colors—red, blue, yellow, and others—stacked one above the other in a container terminal.

Image by Jarosław Bialik from Pixabay

For shipping large amounts of liquid, ISO tanks and Flexitanks are used. However, there are availability issues. Not every container is equipped to handle flexitanks. They can damage the container, and they have various costs. Many are built using quality materials, maintaining the integrity of the liquid.

For cheaper options, drums and IBC (Intermediate Bulk Containers) are pragmatic. They are much more flexible in terms of transportation. But they cannot hold much liquid. So make a choice based on your budget and timeframe.

Conclusion

Knowing the right shipping container is important. You might fall short in space if you don't have the right estimate. You have to pay more for larger containers. And, if you don't have enough cargo to fill the larger capacity, it's just money wasted. So, you must sit down and make the calculation correctly.