How To Secure A Shipping Container To A Tractor Trailer
Once the container has been loaded onto the trailer, it needs to be secured in place. This ensures it doesn’t dislodge during transport. Depending on the type of trailer, there are different ways to secure the container. These include using standardized twist locks, lashing straps and chains.
Common Port Equipment
Common port equipment includes ship-to-shore (STS) gantry cranes, reach stackers, top loaders and many more. These types of equipment are used by most port terminals but not all of them are always available. There are also other ways to load a shipping container onto a trailer, including by using a forklift or side loader. After loading the container, it needs to be secured in place with twistlocks, and then a thorough safety check must be conducted. To make this process as safe as possible, you should be sure to load the containers on a ground surface that is flat and has no overhead obstructions such as trees or wires. You should also ensure that you are working in a location where the trailer’s tilt bed can easily raise and lower the container sections.
Ship-to-Shore (STS) Gantry Cranes
Ship-to-shore (STS) gantry cranes are imposing, multi-story structures prominent at most container terminals used to load intermodal containers on and off container ships. They operate along two rails spaced based on the size of crane to be used. These rails contain a cabin that controls the lateral movement of the waterside leg (WS) and landside leg (LS). Lights and sirens are also activated to ensure safety of the crane operator, crew and vessels below. In general, these quay cranes are designed to load and unload containers from container ships ranging from 12 to 13 containers wide, called Panamax, or 18-22 containers wide, called Post and Super Post Panamax. These types of cranes have become very popular for their efficiency and reliability, especially for the fastest ship turn-around time. However, they are subject to limitations such as high peak demand and energy costs when more than four STS cranes lift simultaneously, for example.
Reach Stackers
Reach stackers are material handling vehicles designed to transport and lift ISO intermodal containers. These are designed to meet size, strength, and durability standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Reach stackers are used in port operations, cargo terminals, storage yards, and railway freight stations around the world. They are capable of moving and handling shipping containers, logs, tubes, and bulk materials with ease. Reach stackers are ideal for warehouses that need to move large volumes of containers and stack them multiple rows deep. However, they can be less efficient than dedicated container handlers when it comes to maximizing storage capacity.
Top Loaders
Top loaders are vehicles used to secure a shipping container onto a trailer. These are less common than gantry cranes and reach stackers, but they are still essential to the port industry. They work by lifting the container vertically through hydraulic pressure. Typically, they’re used in small yards with limited space, although they can be useful for larger yards as well. To start, you place one jack on each corner of the container, and then lower it to the ground until you have enough ground clearance. You may need to do this several times until you’ve raised the container off the ground completely. Once you have the container on the trailer, you use twist locks to lock it in place. This will ensure the container doesn’t move around during transportation. Ideally, you’ll have the same twist lock on each end of the trailer.