A trailer designed to carry shipping containers from port to inland destinations.
Detailed Definition
A container trailer moves a standard ISO shipping container by road between a port or rail ramp and an inland warehouse. Most are skeletal container chassis with twist locks at the corners, but containers may also travel on flatbeds or step-decks with proper securement, or on sideloader trailers that can lift a container to and from the ground. Unlike a dry van, a container trailer has no cargo body of its own; the container is the cargo enclosure. These moves are usually part of drayage or intermodal service.
Chassis, flatbeds and sideloaders
A standard chassis is the usual choice when the container will be unloaded at a dock while still on its wheels. A sideloader trailer has cranes that set the container on the ground, which helps when a site has no dock or wants to keep the container for a longer time without holding a chassis. Flatbeds and step-decks are sometimes used for special moves and must use approved securement. Tell the carrier which equipment your site can receive before booking.
Receiving palletized containers
Containers arrive either floor-loaded, with cartons stacked directly on the floor, or palletized. Palletized loads unload faster but fit fewer cartons. When receiving:
- Confirm whether the delivery is a live unload or a drop, and the free time allowed
- Check that wooden pallets and dunnage in an import container carry ISPM 15 marks
- Use a dock plate or ramp suited to the trailer height, and chock or secure the trailer
- Count pallets and note damage on the delivery receipt before releasing the driver
Domestic containers on chassis
Not every container trailer carries an ocean box. Rail intermodal service in North America also uses domestic containers, commonly 53 feet long, moved on chassis for the road legs. These carry domestic freight, and the pallets inside follow the same loading practices as a dry van.
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a container trailer the same as a dry van?
No. A dry van is a trailer with its own enclosed body, used for domestic freight. A container trailer, usually a chassis, is an open frame that carries a separate shipping container, and the container is what encloses the cargo. Domestic 53 foot containers on chassis also exist for rail intermodal service. Both can deliver to a standard dock, but container moves bring chassis and container free time limits that dry vans usually do not.
Can a container on a chassis be unloaded at a standard dock?
Usually yes. A container on a standard chassis typically backs into a dock door like a trailer, and forklifts or pallet jacks drive in using a dock plate. Deck height can differ from a dry van, so check that your dock leveler covers the range, and secure the chassis against movement. If your site has no dock, ask for a sideloader delivery or plan ground-level unloading with a ramp.