How much Cargo can I load in my container?
Will my goods fit in a container?
These are a couple of questions I am frequently asked by customers. There is specific software available from multiple companies that show you complete load plans of cargo once you enter all the freight information such as pieces, weight and dimensions. However, for a company that does not handle a lot of international shipments, or someone shipping unusual shaped cargo, or a company that does not want to purchase additional software; I usually send the below information:
- 20′ container – l x w x h
- Inside dimensions 19’4″ x 7’8″ x 7’10”
- Door opening w x h – 7’8″ x 7’5″
- Internal capacity (sand) – 1171 cu ft
- Max weight 38,500 lbs (weight must be evenly distributed in the container)
- Max weight 44,000 lbs with Triaxle (must be evenly distributed and booked accordingly)
- 40′ container – l x w x h
- Inside dimensions 39’5″ x 7’8″ x 7’10”
- Door opening w x h – 7’8″ x 7’5″
- Internal capacity (sand) – 2389 cu ft
- Max weight 44,000 lbs (weight must be evenly distributed in the container)
- 40’HC container – l x w x h
- Inside dimensions 39’5″ x 7’8″ x 8’10”
- Door opening w x h – 7’8″ x 8’5″
- Internal capacity (sand) – 2693 cu ft
- Max weight 44,000 lbs (weight must be evenly distributed in the container)
These are the standard guidelines provided by carriers, but you can get approval for additional weight using a triaxle and also on port to port moves. You also need to be aware of local, State and Federal weight restrictions (bridges etc.)
What does “Internal capacity (sand) – 2693 cu ft” mean? This means if you were to remove the top of the container and pour sand in you could get 2693 cubic feet from floor to ceiling, side wall to side wall. Realistically if you were to floor load standard size boxes you could expect to get up to 90% fill (unless you have small boxes that fill up the entire space)
What does “weight must be evenly distributed in the container” mean? We recently had a customer who only loaded 36,000 lbs of cargo in a 40’ container but when the driver was at the scale the load was found to be overweight. The shipper had loaded the front of the container with heavier cargo but the last 15’ was only filed with some small pieces and mainly empty. All the weight of the cargo was on the front axle so the driver was not allowed to continue. In this case, the shipper should have loaded the cargo in the center of the container (ensuring they blocked and braced the crate so it would not shift) and then the weight would have been spread over both axles. When your containers are found to be overweight at the scale it can mean the driver is not permitted to continue their journey and the container must be reloaded. In another situation an additional driver had to be sent to partially unload the first container into a truck causing significant extra charges for the customer.
In addition to extra costs, there can also be significant danger in not loading and securing cargo correctly. Containers can easily tip if all the weight is on one side or cargo is loose rolling from side to side causing damage to the cargo. Wrong weight declarations can mean incorrectly rated lifting equipment is used and in extreme cases can cause injury and death. Overweight containers are also thought to be one of the causes of a recent vessel sinking in the Indian Ocean.
Final thought – don’t forget to check the door opening size. The above are guidelines only and each container can be slightly different. If your cargo is 102” tall it may fit inside the container but you would not get it thru the doors!
If you have any questions in regards to shipping your cargo please feel free to contact Superior Freight Services – superior@supfrt.com or 1.800.298.4305 for your international and domestic transportation needs.
photo credit: Trucker Dan via photopin cc
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