The open sides of a flat-rack container make them perfect for transporting extra-large, awkwardly shaped, and heavy items (out-of-gauge (OOG)) that wouldn’t fit in a standard enclosed container. Their length and width remain compatible with container ships, trains, and other transport equipment designed for 20-foot containers.
Loading flat-rack shipping containers
The open sides can make loading cargo such as piping and timber very efficient. With their open tops, flat-rack containers allow cargo to be top-loaded by crane, which can be faster and more efficient. Flat-rack containers can also support extremely heavy loads of up to around 45,000 lbs.
This flexible loading can require less specialized handling equipment and less time, resulting in flat-rack containers being more cost-effective for shipping OOG cargo.
Flat-rack containers are versatile and can accommodate a broad range of cargo sizes, shapes, and weights.
Common cargo shipped with flat-rack containers:
- Heavy machinery, such as bulldozers, excavators, and cranes
- Boats and marine vehicles
- Timber and pipes
- Cars, trucks, and buses
- Boilers and power generators
- Jet or turboprop engines
