What is container transport?
Container transport is a modern method of transporting goods using containers as the unit of transport. It is suitable for ocean, rail, and international multimodal transport. It is a new, advanced, and modern method of transport. It can load many goods into a specially made container and transport them directly from the sender’s warehouse to the receiver’s warehouse, implementing “door-to-door” transportation. It can pick up goods at the door and deliver them to the door. It can be combined with rail, water, road, and air transport. Transporting in this way is simple, fast, safe, and economical.
The main advantages of container transport
- Efficiency: Since containers are standardized, they can be quickly transferred between various means of transport.
- Safety: The closed container protects the goods from the weather and other external factors.
- Cost-effectiveness: Large-scale transport reduces the unit cost of transporting goods.
- Flexibility: It is suitable for different types and sizes of goods, providing a wide range of applicability.
- Traceability: Modern technology tracks every step, increasing transparency.
How container transport works
Loading: The goods are loaded into the container and secured.
Customs clearance: The necessary export and import customs clearance formalities are completed.
Transport: The container is transported to its destination by sea, land, or air.
Unloading: On arrival at the destination, the goods in the container are unloaded and handed over to the consignee.
Container Freight Service
Hong Ocean can provide one-stop container shipping services and a full range of logistics services from origin to destination. Their primary function is transporting goods smoothly and safely between origin and destination via various waterways.
Container sizes and usage guidelines
Common container sizes:
20-foot container: The external dimensions are usually 6.058 meters long, 2.438 meters wide, and 2.591 meters high, with an internal volume of about 33 cubic meters and a maximum load weight of about 28 tons. It is suitable for loading general cargo such as electronic products, small mechanical equipment, clothing, etc.
A 40-foot container is 12.192 m long, 2.438 m wide, 2.591 m high, with an internal volume of about 67 m³ and a maximum load weight of about 26 tons. It is commonly used to transport bulky goods such as furniture and parts of large industrial equipment.
40-foot high cube container (40HQ): 12.192 m long, 2.438 m wide, 2.896 m high, with an internal volume of approximately 76 m³ and a maximum load weight similar to the 40GP. Due to its high internal space, it is particularly suitable for carrying bulky but relatively lightweight goods such as textiles and plastic products.
If you don’t know how to choose a container, you can check out the following article:
User guide:
Cargo suitability: When selecting the container size, it is necessary to match it reasonably according to the actual volume, weight, and shape of the cargo. Avoid overpacking the cargo, which will waste space, and also ensure that the cargo can be properly fixed and protected inside the container to prevent displacement and damage during transportation.
Weight distribution: Pay attention to the even weight distribution of the goods in the container to avoid uneven weight distribution or load distribution, which may affect transport safety. Heavyweight goods should be placed as close as possible to the bottom of the container near the door to facilitate loading and unloading and balance the center of gravity during transport.
LCL and FCL shipping strategies
LCL shipping: suitable for small batches of goods, cost-saving but may increase handling time and complexity.
FCL shipping: more economical and direct for large batches of goods, reduces intermediate links, brand provides higher security and faster speeds.
How much does it cost to ship a container?
Cost components:
Distance: Long-distance transport is usually more expensive than short-distance transport. For example, shipping a container from China to the east coast of the United States is more expensive than shipping it to Japan because the distance is longer and the fuel costs and ship operating costs are higher.
Mode of transport: Sea freight is usually the cheapest, followed by rail and road transport. Air freight is the most expensive but also the fastest. For example, air freight containers may be used for urgent high-value goods, but the cost will be several times higher than sea freight.
Container size: Generally speaking, the freight for a 20-foot container is lower than that for a 40-foot container, but the unit freight cost may vary depending on the volume of goods. For example, for light and fluffy goods, a 40-foot container may be more cost-effective because it can carry more cargo volume; for heavy goods, a 20-foot container may be more suitable because its load limit is relatively low and will not result in wasted capacity.
Type of goods: Certain unique goods, such as dangerous and refrigerated goods, require special containers and transport conditions, and their freight rates will be higher than those of ordinary goods. For example, refrigerated containers for transporting food require additional refrigeration equipment and energy consumption so that the freight rate will increase accordingly.
Example of cost estimate: For general cargo shipped from Shanghai, China, to Los Angeles, USA, the shipping cost for a 20-foot container is approximately 1,500–2,500 US dollars. The price may fluctuate due to market supply and demand, shipping companies, seasons, and other factors. For a 40-foot container, the shipping cost may be around 2,500–4,000 US dollars. This is only a rough estimate. The freight cost must be determined by inquiring with a freight forwarder or shipping company based on the specific goods and shipping requirements.
Related:how much for air freight from china to los angeles
Why choose our container shipping service?
Hongocean has established long-term and stable cooperative relationships with major shipping companies, ports, railway transportation enterprises, and freight forwarders worldwide and has built a logistics network covering major trade routes and regions worldwide. This enables us to provide customers with a variety of shipping options and flexible route arrangements, ensuring that goods can be delivered to their destination on time and efficiently, whether the customer’s goods are shipped to Europe, the Americas, Asia, or other regions, we can provide quality services.
If you want to know more about containers, please read the following article：
- Mastering CFS: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Calculate CFS Charges
- Understanding CFS in Shipping: A Comprehensive Guide to Shipping Terms cfs
- Smooth Sailing with HongOcean: Affordable Container Shipping Rates
- How Does Shipping a Container Overseas Work? An Overview with Hongocean
- Cheapest Shipping Container from USA to UK: Complete Guide
- HongOcean: Cost of shipping 40ft container from China to USA!
- HongOcean: Affordable 20 ft container shipping cost to india – Your Gateway to Global Trade
- SOC vs. COC Containers: Choosing the Right Fit for Your Freight
