Shipping containers are steel boxes that are used to transport goods all over the globe. They are made out of strong steel, making them incredibly durable so that they can handle long travels. Shipping containers have transformed the transportation industry, allowing the transport of goods on rail, road, and ship easily. Standardisation of containers allowed them to fit into different transport and storage areas easily. This standardisation, also called containerisation, increases efficiency by a huge margin.
What is the Role of Containers in Logistics Transport?
Shipping container transport is the most important and popular way to move different types and sizes of goods around the globe. Goods are often moved intermodal by using several transport nodes in a single shipping container during the journey. Intermodal transportation has many advantages, such as reduced time, reduced chance of freight damage, and safety. The containerisation system improves productivity by reducing the time and increasing the delivery time, which meets the customer’s expectations.
Why is Containerisation Important in Our Logistics Industry Today?
Containerisation allowed containers to be handled anywhere in the world with specialised ships, trucks, or wagons. Each container has a unique identification number and a size type code so it can be tracked and managed efficiently. Their flexibility makes them able to carry a wide variety of goods. Commodities like coal or wheat, manufactured goods, cars, and refrigerated goods can be carried by shipping containers with proper add-ons. You can even transport liquids with specialised containers. Even after they are retired from the transportation industry, they can be recycled and reused for other purposes such as housing or offices. As you can see, containerisation maximises the benefits of shipping containers.
When it comes to trade, the costs of shipments are important, and container transportation offers lower transport costs because of containerisation. The cost of transporting goods in shipping containers is 20 times less expensive than conventional means. The main cost advantage of containerisation comes from lower intermodal transport costs.
Speed is another essential factor when transporting goods with shipping containers
Speed is another essential factor when transporting goods with shipping containers. With the usage of shipping containers, the ship port turnaround times have been reduced from 3 weeks to about 24 hours. Transport chains involving containers are faster because of this. Ships designed for carrying shipping containers are faster than regular cargo ships, and they offer a frequency of port calls allowing a constant velocity. With time container shipping networks became famous and well-connected, so they now can provide a wide range of shipping options.
Before shipping containers, theft of high-value goods was common since the boxes and crates used were easier to open or carry away forcefully. Shipping containers offer high security with their strong design, and you can always add some extra security measures. Their contents are unknown to carriers since they are sealed at the origin by shippers. They can later only be opened at customs or the destination.
A shipping container is a storage unit protecting the goods it contains. This cuts down on the expensive packaging for containerised cargoes like consumption goods. Their standardised nature makes them able to double-stacking on vehicles and the ground. So it is safe to say that containerisation also makes them advantageous during their stored times.
How is Freight Shipped?
Freight shipping is transporting goods or cargo by land, sea, or air. As mentioned, transport goods in your shipping containers are sealed where they are manufactured and stay that way until they reach their destination. Your shipping container can be transported with trucking companies on land to be loaded onto a ship later. After that, the container can only be opened at customs or its final destination.
Conclusion
In this post, we have explored the importance of shipping containers in logistics. Thankfully, these huge metal boxes enabled secure, fast, and safe transportation globally. Ensuring the utmost functionality and cost-efficiency, there is no doubt that shipping containers are one of the most important elements that enhance national and global transportation.
As global trade continues to play a crucial role in many organisations, understanding your shipping requirements, processes and services helps you to plan for effective performance and high-levels of customer satisfaction. IoSCM are experts at supporting individuals and businesses with developing fresh skills and knowledge to drive growth within any business. Contact us today to find out more.
