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′

	Standard 20'		Upgraded 20'		Standard 40'		High Cube 40'
Inside Length	19'4"	5.89m	19'4"	5.89m	39'5"	12.01m	39'5"	12.01m
Inside Width	7'8"	2.33m	7'7"	2.31m	7'8"	2.33m	7'8"	2.33m
Inside Height	7'10"	2.38m	7'10"	2.38m	7'10"	2.38m	8'10"	2.69m
Door Width	7'8"	2.33m	7'6"	2.28m	7'8"	2.33m	7'8"	2.33m
Door Height	7'6"	2.28m	7'6"	2.28m	7'6"	2.28m	8'5"	2.56m
Capacity	1,172 ft	33.18 m	1,150 ft	32.56m	2,390 ft	67.67m	2,694 ft	76.28m
Tare Weight	4,916 lb	2,229 kg	5,060 lb	2,229 kg	8,160 lb	3,701 kg	8,750 lb	3,968 kg
Max. Cargo	47,999 lb	21,727 kg	61,996 lb	28,120 kg	59,040 lb	26,780 kg	58,450 lb	26,512 kg

Equipment Specification – open top 20′

	Open Top 20' (Upgraded Also Available)		Open Top 40'
Inside Length	19'4"	5.89m	39'5"	12.01m
Inside Width	7'7"	2.31m	7'8"	2.33m
Inside Height	7'8"	2.33m	7'8"	2.33m
Door Width	7'8"	2.28m	7'8"	2.33m
Door Height	7'2"	2.18m	7'6"	2.26m
Capacity	1,13 ft	32.16m	2,350 ft	66.54m
Tare Weight	5,280 lb	2,394 kg	8,490 lb	3,850 kg
Max. Cargo	47,620 lb	21,600 kg	58,710 lb	26,630 kg

Equipment Specification – Chassis 33′ Tri-Axle

Chassis 33' Tri-Axle
Length
Overall Extended	41'3"	Long Max Extended	12.37m
Tare Weight	10,900 lb	4,954 kg
Max Cargo	45,500 lb	20,227 kg
Overall Unextended	33'3"	Long Max Extended	9.97m
Tare Weight	10,900 lb	4,954 kg
Max Cargo	39,500 lb	19,955 kg

Equipment Specification – Flat Rack 20′

	Flat Rack 20'		Flat Rack 40'
Inside Length	18'5"	5.31m	39'7"	12.06m
Inside Width	7'3"	2.20m	6'10"	2.08m
Inside Height	7'4"	2.23m	6'5"	1.95m
Tare Weight	5,578 lb	2,530 kg	12,081 lb	5,479 kg
Max. Cargo	47,333 lb	21,487 kg	85,800 lb	38,918 kg

Equipment Specification – Chassis 40′ Gooseneck

Chassis 40' Gooseneck
Length
Overall Extended	40'	Long Max Extended	12.00m
Tare Weight	6,500 lb	2,954 kg
Max Cargo	44,500 lb	20,227 kg

Equipment Specification – Flat Rack Collapsible 20′

	Flat Rack Collapsible 20'		Flat Rack Collapsible 40'
Inside Length	18'6"	5.63m	39'7"	12.06m
Inside Width	7'3"	2.20m	6'10"	2.08m
Inside Height	7'4"	2.23m	6'5"	1.95m
Tare Weight	6,061 lb	2,749 kg	12,787 lb	5,800 kg
Max. Cargo	61,117 lb	22,722 kg	85,800 lb	38,918 kg

Equipment Specification – Platform 20′

	Platform 20'		Platform 40'
Inside Length	19'11"	6.07m	40'0"	12.19m
Inside Width	8'0"	2.43m	8'0"	2.43m
Inside Height	7'4"	2.23m	6'5"	1.95m
Tare Weight	6,061 lb	2,749 kg	12,783 lb	5,798 kg
Max. Cargo	52,896 lb	23,993 kg	66,397 lb	30,117 k

Equipment Specification – Reefer 20′

	Reefer 20'		Reefer 40'		Reefer 40' High Cube
Inside Length	17'8"	5.38m	37'8"	11.48m	37'11"	11.55m
Inside Width	7'5"	2.26m	7'5"	2.26m	7'6"	2.28m
Inside Height	7'5"	2.26	7'2"	2.18m	8'2"	2.48m
Door Width	7'5"	2.26m	7'5"	2.26m	7'6"	2.28m
Door Height	7'3"	2.20m	7'0"	2.13m	8'0"	2.43m
Capacity	1,000 ft	28.31m	2,040 ft	57.76m	2,334 ft	66.37m
Tare Weight	7,040 lb	3,193 kg	10,780 lb	4,889 kg	9,900 lb	4,490 kg
Max. Cargo	45,760 lb	20,756 kg	56,276 lb	25,526 kg	57,561 lb	26,780