Boxxport Blog

Platform containers come to your rescue when you have heavy cargo to be transported that cannot be shipped in any other container type.

The shipping container industry has grown exponentially in the last few decades. This means of transportation of cargo plays a very crucial role in our lives. Yet, due to the fact that they mostly live in transit or at sea, we tend to not think about them a lot. Trade is the backbone of the world economy, and it is completely dependent on the fact that the goods need to be transported from one location to another.

With the advent of shipping containers, the whole logistics department was simplified as the need for an intermediator was eliminated. The cargo could be stored, transported, and delivered in the same shipping container. 

The most widely used types of shipping containers available worldwide are:

Dry Van	Side Door	Flat Rack	Reefer
Pallet Wide	Open Top	Platform	Bulkers
Double Door	Hard Roof Open Top	Insulated	Tanks

What is a Platform Container?

A platform container is a simple floor arrangement, which does not comprise any end or sidewalls. They are not meant for normal or standard cargo to be shipped in them. They are meant for all your unique types of cargo that cannot be transported in other types of cargo boxes available. 

This container type offers shipping solutions in cargo that is extra in any which way, be it size, height, or length. It offers ideal solution for cargo in oversized, over-height, and over-length, but has 20ft and 40ft length dimensions, the same as standard units.

Platform cargo boxes are made from a steel frame and a wooden floor. The structure has an extremely high loading capacity and it has been proven to be beneficial in providing a strong base for your heavy and bulky cargo.

For the cargo that cannot be transported via dry van containers, double-door containers, etc., the platform variantcomes into use. They come in handy when you have to ship products that have a heavyweight on a small base. 

They are used to move freight like extremely large and heavy machinery, oil and gas hardware, lumber, transportation equipment, and so on. For oversized and hefty loads which even exceed the standard specifications, platform containers can also be lashed together to create an even larger platform to meet your requirements. 

What are the different dimensions of Platform Container?

The dimensions of a platform shipping container are the same as the standard variant. It comes in 20 feet and 40 feet length dimensions. Since no walls or doors are adding any strength or weight to the platform, the floor is thus constructed more thickly, thus the height of the cargo is reduced. 

An important fact to note in this case is that since there is no roof or walls or doors present to cover the cargo, a high cube variant is not available in the category of platform containers. 

A detailed view of the different dimensions of platform containers:

20 feet

External dimension	19’10 x 8’ x 1’2
Tare weight	5560 pounds
Payload Capacity	61640pounds
Max gross weight	67200 pounds

40 feet

External dimension	40’ x 8’6 x 2’1
Tare weight	12570 pounds
Payload Capacity	86640 pounds
Max gross weight	99210 pounds

Flat Rack and Platform, aren’t they the same?

For a very long time, many people have been confusing platform containers with flat rack containers. Flat rack boxes have a lot in common with their platform variant. Both are used extensively for the movement of heavy cargo from one location to another. They are also available in the same dimensions of 20 and 40 feet. 

It can be said that a flat-rack container can be converted into a platform variant, but they are not at all the same. Flat-rack shipping vessels have walls on both short edges of the box. These cargo vessels are suitable for transporting cargo that is difficult to load onto the vehicle from the front gate. These walls can be collapsible or non-collapsible. The collapsible type of flat-rack containers can be used as a platform one as well.

What are the Characteristics of Platform Containers?

• They are used to carry heavy bulky cargo, which cannot be carried in any other type of vessel available. They are your saviors when you have nowhere else to go.
• They don’t have side or front doors or walls. This enables them to a flatbed structure and also increases their loading capacity.
• A special characteristic of a 40 feet platform box is that it has lashing rings that are tied towards the edges of the cargo box longitudinally. They can be lashed together to create an even bigger platform to transport heavier cargo and ensure safety.
• Another special feature of 40 feet variant is that they have a gooseneck tunnel at each end, which allows them to carry freight at a much greater height, as it can then be lowered.

The most common applications of platform containers

• They are the best choice for the transportation of XXL machinery, airplane apparatuses, and other extremely heavy cargo.
• All platform shipping boxes have fork pocket holes to ensure the smooth transporting of the cargo.
• They can carry up to 3000 kg of cargo inside rails and gooseneck tunnels.

BOXXPORT is an online platform that helps bring together buyers and sellers who want to deal in shipping containers online. We provide market players with an opportunity to trade shipping containers online with increased efficiency and more transparent services.