Shipment Types

Types of shipment

K&L Freight can offer a wide range on container types to suit your needs.

Main Container Types

The main containers used are 20GP (20ft general purpose), 40GP (40ft general purpose) and 40HC (40ft high cube).

The 40HC will offer the best value for money. You will get over double the space than you do with 20GP (76.28 cubic metres as opposed to 33.18 cubic metres) but it would not be double the cost. A 40GP can hold 67.67 cubic metres.

40GP & HC Uses

Many 40GP and 40HC containers are used for light or medium weight cargo such as furniture whereas 20GP are good for heavier cargo such as stone or marble.

Due to the container itself weighing less, the 20GP can carry up to 28180kg.

The 40GP can only carry up to around 26700kg.

Open Top Containers

For cargo considered to be ‘out of gauge’ (i.e. Large items such as machinery that would not fit in a standard container) there are open top containers.

Open top containers are ideal for cargo that is tall – or flat rack containers for cargo that is too wide. These are not as cheap as standard containers but will do that job that standard containers cannot.

Refrigerated Containers

We can also arrange for refrigerated containers (known as reefers) for any cargo that may be temperature sensitive such as food or pharmaceutical goods.

As well as reefers that are plugged into a generator to maintain the temperature required, we can also use non-operating reefers.

These can only be used for clean, odourless and non-hazardous cargo such as new electronic parts, new machinery, clothing, furniture, toys, books and packaged food.

Reefer containers are slightly smaller inside than standard containers of the same (external) size due to the insulation required for when the refrigerator is in use.

So for example, externally, a 40ft reefer is the size of a 40HC (high cube) but internally, the size of a 40GP (general purpose).

Shipping lines will often require to replenish their stock in other ports across the world, so we are sometimes offered low rates in order to encourage shippers to use them over standard containers and therefore mean that they are receiving some revenue, rather than sending an empty container across the world.

Cargo Weights

The weight of the cargo (payload) that can be stuffed into any container would be determined by the container itself, the origin country’s road laws and the destination country’s road laws.

Here in the UK, the maximum weight of a truck is 44,000kg. This includes the cargo, the container, the truck and even the driver’s lunch.

The UK has one of the highest limits in Europe, matching several others, only having less than Finland, Czech Republic, Denmark – where it is 48,000kg and Sweden, who allow an massive 60,000kg!

The USA, where everything is apparently bigger, have much stricter limits in some states.

Most states only allow up to 36,363kg. South Dakota has no limit at all and trucks exceeding 77,000kg (over double the limit of most other states) are often seen.

Trucking 70,000kg of cargo from South Dakota to North Dakota? You will have to take two trucks, because North Dakota limit is only 47,954kg!

Please see below tables for the shipment types we use for our freight solutions.

For more information about our importing and exporting, please follow the link.

Equipment Specification – Standard 20′

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Equipment Specification – open top 20′

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Equipment Specification – Chassis 33′ Tri-Axle

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Equipment Specification – Flat Rack 20′

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Equipment Specification – Chassis 40′ Gooseneck

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Equipment Specification – Flat Rack Collapsible 20′

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Equipment Specification – Platform 20′

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Equipment Specification – Reefer 20′

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