The Different Types of Boxcars for Cargo Shipping
People who work in
industries that require shipping would know the different types of boxcars
available. A freight car of a boxcar can come in a large array of uses, shapes,
and sizes, but their classifications rely on their specific designs. Read on to
learn about the different boxcar types and the
commodities they can transport.
What is a Boxcar?
In the most basic
sense, a boxcar is a box-shaped car with side or end doors used to transport
cargo and freight via a railway system. Boxcars are the most common among all
freight car types. Most boxcars these days need the approval of the FDA for
transport. There are boxcars used for transporting a specific type of cargo,
and boxcars for generic freight.
What are Boxcars Used
For?
Boxcars, like other
freight transporting methods, work primarily to ship cargo from one place to
another. Its design makes it extremely versatile, allowing industries to fill
or load the car in a number of ways. Shipping companies used to load boxcars by
hand, but today they use the assistance of mechanized tools such as forklifts.
Indispensable to
most industries, boxcars are a means of transportation for construction
companies, farms, fishing companies, automobile manufacturers, and more.
Boxcars these days are designed to accommodate most modular shipping
containers, making them more space saving and efficient.
The Different Types
of Boxcars
There are many
types of boxcar to accommodate cross-industry needs. The different types can
easily accommodate and transport items when companies have more than one type
of freight to deal with.
Different industries require
specific types of boxcars to ensure safe transportation. For example,
chemicals, petroleum, and compressed gases are dangerous, and need containers that
can make sure that they won't react and explode. The list of different boxcar
types and their specifications include the following:
- Refrigerated Boxcars - These cars
have insulation and allow the freight to remain at a certain temperature. They
are useful when it comes to transporting frozen commodities like food.
Refrigerator cars have cryogens, side rails, built in containers, and
adjustable loading devices.
- Tank Cars - These cars
transport liquids and compressed or liquefied gases. Due to the risks
associated with their cargo, tank cars need approval from the Department of
Transportation or the Association of American Railroads beforehand.
- Stock Boxcars - A mainstay
in the agriculture industry, these boxcars transport livestock. These boxcars
keep the animals comfortable and ventilated during transportation.
There are other
boxcar types like gondolas, hoppers, insulated boxcars, standard boxcars, and
more.
What are the Benefits
of Using Boxcars?
Using boxcars to
transport automobile parts, sacks of grain and the like come with many
advantages. A boxcar's design makes it versatile, so big companies can fit in
heavier loads into a single car. Boxcars also have many different kinds, and
can accommodate a variety of freight.
Most rail oriented
transportation methods can save industries plenty of cash. In terms of
ton-miles per unit of energy consumed, boxcar transportation is the most
effective among all means of freight shipping. Industries can save more with
bulk commodities hauled over long distances. Boxcar shipping is not as flexible
as road transport or air transport. Thanks to containerization, however, it's
easier than ever to switch the load from one railway to the other.
Rail transport is also energy efficient, making it good for the
environment. Many governments these days are trying to encourage more
industries to use boxcars and rail containers to save energy and cut down
pollution. Click here to read more about freight shipping by boxcars.
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About the Author
Hello there, I am Georgia and I'm doing a study about shipping
business. With this write-up become familiar with new stuff. This is where
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