Container semi-trailer: development perspective

2025 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-22 21:14

To transport large volumes of goods by road, container semi-trailers are used. Their main advantage is mobility and standardization. It is determined by the fact that the geometric dimensions of containers are standardized.

This allows you to reduce the cost and time of unloading and loading operations. Therefore, transportation in containers occupies a large share in the total volume of cargo transportation. In general, containers appeared in the late fifties of the last century. However, they became widespread only fifteen or twenty years ago.

Types of containers

Before talking about the types of container semi-trailers, it is necessary to understand the types of containers. Here it should be mentioned what containers are. They can be categorized by both weight capacity (in tons) and length (in feet).

In the specification, only internal dimensions are given for the convenience of estimating the capacity of the cargo. Here are their geometric dimensions:

• 3-ton. (Length × width × height): 1.93 × 1.22 × 2.13 m.
• 5-ton. (Length × width × height): 2.51 × 1.95 × 2.12m.
• 20-ton (Length × width × height): 5.86× 2, 33 × 2, 19 m.
• 24-ton (Length × width × height): 5.86 × 2.33 × 2.35 m.
• 20 feet (6 m). Length - from 5.4 to 6.07 m (depending on the type of container). Width - from 2.2 to 2.43 m (depending on the type of container). Height - from 1.95 to 2.4 m (depending on the type of container). Divided into types: standard, bulk, open, platform, tank, open platform, refrigerator.
• 40 feet (12 m). Length - from 11.5 to 12.19 (depending on the type of container). Width - from 2.08 to 2.43 (depending on the type of container). Height - from 1.95 to 2.7 m (depending on the type of container). Types: 2M standard, open, high capacity, platform, refrigerated, open platform.
• 45 feet (13.5 m). Length - 13.5 m. Width - 2.35 m. Height - 2.7 m. Considered a High Capacity Container.

Types of container ships

Container semi-trailers come in two modifications: standard and low-bed.

Standard trailers have the following characteristics: length - 12.5 m, width - 2.5 m, height (from the ground to the surface of the platform) - 1.4 m, maximum load capacity - 31 tons. It can carry two 20 -feet container or one 40-foot container.

It is also called "20ft container semi-trailer" because of the main loading of this particular transport container.

Low-bed semi-trailers have dimensions: length - 12.65 m, width - 2.5 m, height - 1.1 m. It allows you to carry up to 34 tons of cargo. Due to the great lengthsemi-trailer, it can transport 45-foot containers. It has a "lower" center of gravity to increase vehicle stability.

Design

Containerships consist of a power frame and chassis. The frame is a welded construction of various profiles: corners, channels and I-beams. Not only the durability of the trailer, but also safety on the road depends on the build quality of this power element. Therefore, manufacturers take a responsible approach to the design and installation of all components of the semi-trailer.

Chassis in modern container ships are two-axle and three-axle. The choice of the number of axles depends on the carrying capacity of the trailer. Particular attention is paid to the creation of the brake system. As a rule, it is duplicated for redundancy. Suspension is carried out using pneumatics in order to adjust the ride height.

Container ship manufacturers

If we talk about the favorites in the creation of container semi-trailers, then the following companies can be noted here: Kassbohrer, Krone, Schmitz, Kőgel and Wielton. It is not worth highlighting any of this series. This is a high quality and reliable machine. Some companies showcase a diverse range of trailers, others make more options.

Knowing the long payback period for this type of product, manufacturers are very actively using such a credit mechanism as leasing, which once again emphasizes the highest level of their products.

Not every truck driverknows that there is a container semi-trailer MAZ. Along with well-known tractors, this enterprise was able to master this type of product. On the market of container ship manufacturers, you can also find SZAP and Tonar semi-trailers. They offer a simple, inexpensive and unpretentious technique.

Unified trailer

Not so long ago, sliding container semi-trailers appeared. They are necessary in the case when the dimensions of the cargo are greater than the length of the platform. They have the ability to push the frame elements to increase its size. The length of the platform can be increased up to 15 m. As a rule, such semi-trailers are equipped with a three-axle chassis and even with a large number of axles.

This requires increased load capacity. In the stowed position, one axle can be raised to reduce friction with the road and therefore reduce the fuel consumption of the tractor. Thanks to this, container semi-trailers are more mobile and unified, which required the creation of an extension mechanism and an increase in the strength of structural elements.

Conclusion

According to some reports, the volume of the world container transportation market has reached $500 billion. Today in Russia the number of cargo transportation by cars prevails over transportation by rail. And the trend is that this gap will widen.

But also in the road transport sector itself, container shipping is beginning to prevail over others, thanks to economic efficiency. So, focusing on containertransportation gives a profit of 3.5 to 4 million rubles per 1 million tons of cargo, which gives the release of 1,500 movers. At the same time, delivery is accelerated by 25-30%. Ultimately, all this leads to an increase in the range and number of container trailers on our roads.