Shipping containers are an incredibly versatile means of carrying out heavy haulage jobs. They can be used on ocean-going vessels as well as on-road haulage routes and even transported on the Australian railway network if wanted. As such, they are classed as an inter-modal form of haulage provision. Having been around for over half a century, it is no wonder shipping containers remain popular around the world. Nevertheless, some heavy haulage jobs require non-standard shipping containers because of the loads that need to be moved. What are some of the more unusual ones you may need if you have bulky or heavy cargo to transport?
Flat Rack Shipping Containers
To begin with, one of the most common types of non-standard shipping container you will see on Australian roads for bulky haulage jobs is a flat rack container. Although these can be picked up and moved around by cranes, just like any other type of shipping container, they do not have any sides. This means that oversized items can be placed on them which may hang over their left and right edges. Most flat rack containers have a reinforced bed for dealing with heavy items as well as collapsible ends which mean that long items can be transported on them, too.
Open-Topped Shipping Containers
If you have a haulage job that involves items that need more protection but which won't fit inside a conventional shipping container, then an open-topped one is likely to fit the bill. These shipping containers look just like conventional ones until you view them from above because they have a front, a back and sides but no roof. This makes them suitable for loading items which would otherwise simply not be transportable with this sort of haulage system.
Open-Sided Shipping Containers
An open-sided storage container is another useful solution if you have something that will fit inside a conventional shipping container but which won't squeeze through the doors at the end. This is because although an open-sided container has sides, it has a larger entrance on one of them. Consequently, it is possible to load it and unload it rapidly even if you have very large, single-piece items to transport that cannot be broken down.
Tank Shipping Containers
Many professional haulage companies use tank containers for transporting liquids and gases. They will commonly have a conventional circular tank in which their contents are securely contained, but these are mounted within a steel framework. This means they conform to the standard shipping container dimensions. As such, they can be transported by conventional haulage means without the need for specialist trucks.
Reach out to a haulage company to learn more.
Hello. Ivy here. As an avid traveller, I think I have used every form of transport that exists. I have traversed this planet on everything from donkeys to B-Doubles despite protests from my worried parents! These days, friends and family often consult me about different forms of transport and I have become quite a font of knowledge. I created this blog so that others who have an interest in transport can join me in my obsession and maybe extract some useful nuggets of wisdom. Please park yourself for a little while and enjoy wandering through my posts. Thank you for driving by.