Freight glossary / Equipment and trailers

What is Container in freight?

A container is the standardized steel box that carries ocean and intermodal freight and can move between ship, rail, and truck without being unpacked. Common lengths are 20, 40, and 53 feet, with ocean containers usually 20 or 40 and domestic intermodal usually 53. The container is the unit both demurrage and per diem clocks run against.

Also called: shipping container, box, intermodal container.

Related terms

• Drayage
• Chassis
• Intermodal
• Demurrage
• Per diem