Know Shipping Containers: These 30 Points Are Enough!-Ehang Container House

What do large container, small container, and twin 20s mean?

(1) A large container usually means a 40-foot container, typically a 40GP or 40HQ. A 45-foot container is generally treated as a special container.

(2) A small container usually means a 20-foot container, typically a 20GP.

(3) Twin 20s means two 20-foot small containers. For example, one truck may haul two 20-foot units at once; at a port, two 20-foot containers may be lifted onto a vessel in one move.

What is LCL? What about FCL?

(1) LCL (Less than Container Load) means one container holds cargo from multiple shippers. Small lots that do not fill a whole container are LCL cargo and are handled as LCL-LCL.

(2) FCL (Full Container Load) means one container holds cargo from only one shipper or factory. Larger lots that fill one or more full containers are FCL cargo and are handled as FCL-FCL.

What are the common container sizes?

(1) 40-foot high cube (40HC): 40 ft long, 9 ft 6 in high; about 12.192 m long, 2.9 m high, 2.35 m wide; typically loads about 68 CBM.

(2) 40-foot general purpose (40GP): 40 ft long, 8 ft 6 in high; about 12.192 m long, 2.6 m high, 2.35 m wide; typically loads about 58 CBM.

(3) 20-foot general purpose (20GP): 20 ft long, 8 ft 6 in high; about 6.096 m long, 2.6 m high, 2.35 m wide; typically loads about 28 CBM.

(4) 45-foot high cube (45HC): 45 ft long, 9 ft 6 in high; about 13.716 m long, 2.9 m high, 2.35 m wide; typically loads about 75 CBM.

How do high cubes differ from general-purpose containers?

A high cube is 1 foot taller than a GP (one foot equals 30.44 cm). Length and width are the same for high cubes and GPs.

What is tare weight? What is a laden container?

(1) Tare weight: the empty weight of the box itself. A 20GP tares about 1.7 tons; a 40GP about 3.4 tons.

(2) Laden (heavy) container: a box loaded with cargo, as opposed to an empty container.

What is an empty container?

A box with no cargo is an empty container. In South China, especially Guangdong and Hong Kong, empties are often called "lucky boxes" in local speech, because in Cantonese the word for empty sounds like an unlucky word, so people avoid saying "empty" and prefer a more auspicious term. "Pick empty, return laden" means pick up an empty, go load cargo, then return the loaded heavy box.

What is delivering a laden container? What is dropping a laden container?

(1) Delivering a laden container: hauling a laden box from a depot to a factory or warehouse for unloading (usually import).

(2) Dropping a laden container: after loading at a factory or warehouse, returning the laden box to the depot (usually export).

What is delivering an empty? What is dropping an empty?

(1) Delivering an empty: hauling an empty from a depot to a factory or warehouse for loading (usually export).

(2) Dropping an empty: after unloading at a factory or warehouse, returning the empty to the depot (usually import).

What box type does DC stand for?

DC means Dry Container. 20GP, 40GP, 40HQ and similar units are dry containers.

What box type does OT stand for?

OT is short for Open Top: a container with no hard roof, only a tarpaulin over the top.

What is a half-side door?

A container with doors on half of one side.

What is a bill of lading number?

Usually the number your freight forwarder gives you for container pickup. It may be the carrier (master) B/L number (MBL) or the forwarder (house) B/L number (HBL). You generally need vessel/voyage and the B/L number to pick up an empty or laden container.

What is a container number?

The unique ID of a container: four letters plus seven digits. The first three letters are the owner code (shipping line or leasing company); the fourth letter is always U; the next six digits are the serial number; the last digit is a check digit. Drivers usually provide the number after pickup. It is needed for customs declaration, documentation, and warehouse/manifest entry.

What is a seal number?

The number on the seal that locks the container doors. Seals are usually supplied by the shipping line and must be purchased—typically about $6.94 each.

What is export cargo (in this trucking context)?

Pick up an empty at the depot, load at a factory or warehouse, then declare for export.

What is import cargo (in this trucking context)?

After import customs clearance, haul a laden box from the depot to a factory or designated place for unloading.

What is a deadhead (empty run)?

The truck arrives at a factory or warehouse but cannot load for some reason and must haul the empty back to the depot.

What is container shifting / restacking?

Moving a box from one depot yard to another, or not picking boxes in top-to-bottom order—moving upper boxes aside to reach one underneath. This is more common when a specific container number is required or for customs inspection.

What is a container depot / CY?

Usually a place at or near the terminal where boxes are stacked and managed. Drivers typically go to the depot for pickup/return. There is also a depot receipt used for handover between the depot and the driver.

What is usually on a bill of lading?

Typically B/L number, vessel and voyage, container tare weight, cargo description, piece count, gross weight, volume, number of containers, issuer, and signature.

What should you note when arranging a truck dispatch?

Tell the trucker clearly whether it is export or import, box type and quantity, cargo weight, location, depot, whether a contract is needed, arrival time at the factory, and any special requirements for the container.

What should you watch when writing a dispatch order?

Write it clearly and in a standard format—some drivers cannot read Latin letters. Vessel, voyage, B/L number, depot, arrival time, factory address, contact phone, special box requirements, and special factory requirements must be clear. If there is an invoice title, write it clearly so the driver does not issue the wrong one.

Also note cautions on the order—for example, some cargo has strict container condition rules. Spell them out for the driver to avoid disputes over extra fees later.

What is an Equipment Interchange Receipt (EIR)?

For export pickup, you first print documents and receive a multi-copy Equipment Interchange Receipt. The driver uses it to pick up, exit, enter, and return the container.

Until what time do export depots release containers?

Usually until 10:00, but document counters are often empty by about 9:00. So import jobs should aim to return around 8:00, because the driver still needs to drop the box first.