| Containerization is an inter-modal system of | | | | added benefit of containerization. The cargo |
| transporting the general cargo or product in | | | | is not visible and hence less likely to be |
| lots which are too small for the traditional | | | | stolen and also doors of the containers are |
| bulk transport system, using ISO standard | | | | sealed so that its safety can be assured. |
| containers. The goods can be easily moved | | | | |
| from one location to another in these | | | | Worldwide standardization of sizes of |
| containers which can be loaded intact onto | | | | containers has lessened the problems of |
| the container ships, trucks, railroad cars | | | | incompatibility and gauge. Today most of the |
| and planes. | | | | trains in the world operate on 4 feet 8½ |
| | | | inch gauge track but many countries like |
| The concept of containerization is considered | | | | Russia, Australia, Spain and Finland while |
| as the key innovation in the field of | | | | countries in Africa and South America use |
| logistics which has revolutionized freight | | | | narrower gauges. |
| handling in the twentieth century. | | | | |
| | | | Some of the largest global players |
| Benefits of Containerization | | | | containerizing containers today are Bowen |
| | | | Exports, Theiler & Sons Goods, LLC and |
| Goods in lots which are too small for the | | | | Patrick Global Shipping. |
| traditional bulk transport can be moved using | | | | |
| containers. | | | | Types of containers available to meet |
| | | | different needs: |
| Containerization is best option for | | | | |
| high-value and delicate cargo as it provides | | | | Open top bulk containers |
| safety from human and natural factors. | | | | |
| | | | Open side containers |
| As containers are moved intact, substantial | | | | |
| amount of time and labor cost is saved which | | | | General purpose dry vans |
| would otherwise have incurred in loading and | | | | |
| unloading goods. | | | | Platform containers |
| | | | |
| It prevents poor handling of goods that | | | | High cube pallet wide containers |
| results from bulk transport systems. | | | | |
| | | | Containers with temperature controlling |
| Containers can act as mode of storage | | | | facility |
| anywhere along the transport route. | | | | |
| | | | Ventilated containers |
| Container ships provide regular service to | | | | |
| overseas ports, thus it minimizes the waiting | | | | Tank containers |
| time. | | | | |
| | | | Flush folding flat-rack containers |
| Containerization reduces the transit time | | | | |
| which not only offers a means of marketing | | | | Future |
| for the producer that bulk systems cannot | | | | |
| provide, but also helps to reduce the | | | | Containerization reduces time in transit, the |
| inventory costs and increases reliability. | | | | inventory costs and increases reliability. |
| | | | Such benefits are forcing the industry to |
| Following part explains the containerization | | | | make it more favorable in terms of cost, |
| in past, present future: | | | | flexibility and speed. As the Internet and |
| | | | other new communication technologies are |
| The carrying of containers through ships | | | | developing, it is expected to bring more |
| started in 1951 between Alaska and Seattle. | | | | innovations which will further simplify the |
| The first purpose built container ship the | | | | tasks of logistics. |
| Clifford J. Rodgers was built in Montreal in | | | | |
| 1955 which was owned by the White Pass & | | | | Many companies are designing the freighters |
| Yukon Route. In its maiden trip it carried | | | | capable of 14000 TEU. |
| 600 containers between Skagway, Alaska and | | | | |
| North Vancouver, British Columbia. These | | | | Container traffic from Asia is expected to |
| containers could be moved by rail, truck and | | | | grow more rapidly in near future. The |
| ships. This way gradually, the whole inter- | | | | containerization in terms of expansion is |
| modal system started operating. | | | | expected to be far rapid in China. The Asia's |
| | | | share of containerized exports to world's |
| Malcom McLean, the US trucking industry | | | | total exports is expected to reach nearly 64 |
| player innovated the idea of using large | | | | % in 2015. |
| containers, transferable on an inter-modal | | | | |
| basis. With the abolition of Interstate | | | | Past |
| Commerce Commission's regulatory, | | | | |
| deregulation of maritime rates, trucking and | | | | The effort to ship cargo in container |
| railway it became possible to develop fully | | | | initiated in the beginning of 19th century. |
| integrated system. | | | | These containers could be shifted from |
| | | | railroads to ships or trucks. The containers |
| Present | | | | used at that time were much smaller than what |
| | | | we see today. |
| Today containerization has become the | | | | |
| integral part of logistics. It has | | | | In the mid 1920s Milwaukee Railway and |
| revolutionized the cargo shipping. Today, | | | | Chicago North Shore started using shippers' |
| nearly 90% of non bulk cargo moves by | | | | vehicles and motor carrier vehicles on |
| containers put on transport ships. One fourth | | | | flatcars between the route of Milwaukee and |
| of world's total containers start from China. | | | | Chicago. Later, Seatrain Lines carried |
| | | | railroad boxcars on ships to move goods |
| With the use of ISO standard containers, the | | | | between Cuba and New York. Also, the Chicago |
| size and shapes of commercial vehicles | | | | Great Western Railway and the New Haven |
| carrying containers are also getting | | | | railroad began transporting highway freight |
| standardized. | | | | trailers on flatcars. In the early 1950s, |
| | | | these flatcars got more equipped with new |
| Today, improved cargo security is seen as an | | | | decks. |