Flat Rack Containers

At the shipping ports, cargo may be unloaded or unloaded into different types of containers. Some containers used might be open top, refrigerated or high cube. One of the most popular but not often used containers would be of the flat rack variety. A flat rack container has no top and only two walls (on the shorter of the two rectangular sides). This container is made of steel, including a sturdy floor. The primary shipping purpose of a flat rack is to ship cargo that is heavy in weight and/or large in size. Examples of transported cargo on a flat rack include vehicles and bulky machines. Manufacturers who ship these items via ocean freight containers use flat rack containers.

The design of a flat rack is convenient for large and massive weight shipments. Since the flat rack has no top and only two walls, freight can be loaded or unloaded by the top or by the sides. In addition, in some flat rack containers, the two walls might be collapsible, which will make loading even easier. For different cargo shipments, flat rack containers include 20” and 40”. The floor height for a 20” flat rack container is usually 12 inches tall; the floor height for a 40” flat rack container is usually 24 inches tall. Thus, shipments on the 40” flat rack appear to be slightly taller. The flat racks also have rings attached that can be used to help lock on and secure freight. Consult your logistics provider if you would like to ship with a flat rack.