Container Storage and Shipping Costs

A quick look at this title will show two distinct but very much related subjects. These are: “container storage” and “shipping costs”. Container storage is very much related to shipping but can actually be discussed as a subject on its own. Given this, we will first look at container storage as a distinct subject and then we will look at it in relation to shipping and the costs associated with it.

Container Storage

Containers were not primarily designed for use as storage units. Shipping containers as we know them today were designed for use as intermodal freight containers. What this means is that they were designed to make the logistics of moving goods from one point to the other a lot easier especially across very long distances.

Intermodal refers to the fact that the container is capable of being transported on different modes of transportation without having to load, unload and reload the contents of the container at any time. Read about it here.

Let’s look at a typical shipping process…

The shipper loads the container and then puts in on a freight truck for transportation to the freight forwarder’s warehouse from where it is taken to the port (or station) via possibly another freight truck and then transferred into a cargo ship. When it gets to its destination port, it is again removed from the ship and transferred to another means of transportation until it gets to its final destination.

In this entire process, the contents of the container will never have to be unloaded and reloaded. This is why they are referred to as intermodal containers.

Now, to withstand this amount of strain, these containers are built to be very tough. Their contents are practically stored safely in them all through the journey. If stuff can be stored safely in them for such stressful journeys, they can surely also be used as storage containers at fixed locations.

Given this obvious fact, we can see that they are now very commonly used as such storage units.

You can check out a full description of the journey a container goes through in this infographic: http://www.worldshipping.org/about-the-industry/how-liner-shipping-works/the-step-by-step-process.

Shipping Cost

One of the reasons why shipping containers have continued to be very popular and crucial in the shipping and logistics industry is that it makes the entire shipping process a whole lot easier. This is because the containers are standardized such that the measurement of a 20-foot container is the same all over the world.

With this, storage spaces and cargo ship capacity can be calculated very easily and cost of each container given. Of course there are other factors that will determine your shipping cost.

Let’s try to take a close look at this issue of shipping cost by starting from the very basics.

FCL or LCL?

This is one of the very first factors that will determine your shipping cost. FCL stands for Full Container Load while LCL stands for Less Container Load. Not everyone who will ship will require a whole container. Sometimes, your cargo may require a small part of the container.

In such a situation, the freight forwarder will get other cargo owners to fill up the container. This means more work for the freight forwarder as they will have to sort the different cargo at each of the ports. This increases their logistics and cost, which means that the individuals who own the different cargo will bear this cost.

If however you have an FCL, your relative cost will be lower. Depending on the size of your cargo, you may want to find out the cost of an FCL and that of an LCL to know which is best for you.

Mode of Transportation

A lot of people might not be aware that cargo plans can also carry containers from city to city or country to country. The reason why shipping containers are usually associated with shipping is that the cost of airlifting a container to its destination can be up to 10 times what it could cost to go by ship.

While air freight is so much faster, its high cost makes it unrealistic for many businesses. Therefore, your shipping cost will be affected by the mode of transportation you choose.

Distance to be Travelled

This is probably one of the most important factors to be considered when looking at shipping costs. The main part of this cost is the distance the cargo will have to travel to reach its port of destination.

For example, it will be cheaper to ship from the U.S to Malta than from the U.S to China. Aside from this main distance, you will also need to consider the distance from the shipper to the freight forwarder and the distance from the destination port to the consignee. These will also affect your overall shipping cost.

Items Being Shipped

Your shipping cost will also be affected by the type of item you are shipping. Household items will not cost the same as say chemicals or drugs. There is also the issue of duties you may have to pay at the port of entry. These duties will also be determined by the item being brought in.

You can only determine your shipping cost when you have all the information listed above.

Getting a Container

Whether you require a container for storage purposes or for shipping, one thing that is common to both scenarios is the need for a container. So how can you get a container if you need one?

You can of course ask your freight forwarder to help you get a container or you could take the time to get one for yourself, ensuring you get exactly what you like.

Should you decide to get one for yourself, there are different ways you can go about it. However, the fastest and most reliable method is making use of container market places. You can get containers from Shipped.com which is one of the most reliable market places out there.

One of the benefits you get from using such container market places is easy access to a huge directory of available containers of all kinds. This makes it a lot easier for you to find exactly what you need.

Secondly, you can also enjoy different payment options. There is the usual option for outright payment which allows you to simply pay for what you want once you find it. This option is best for those who intend to ship items with the container.

Another option involves renting to own. In this option, you pay a small monthly fee towards owning the container. In the meantime, the container will be available to you for use. This is a great option for folks who may want to own a container but cannot afford an outright purchase.

There is yet a third option which will perfectly suit those who only need the container for a short period. This is simply a rental arrangement. You rent it for a specific period and then you return it.

Hopefully, with all we have looked at above you now know exactly how and where to get your container whether for storage or for shipping.