What is a container? 

A container is a steel receptacle used to transport ocean and rail shipments. The modern container was invented in the 1950s by Malcolm P. McLean, who owned a steamship company and wanted to be able to lift a container from a vehicle directly on to a ship without first having to unload its contents.

The incoterm FCA should be used for containerized shipments, instead of the pre-container era incoterm FOB. 

Common container sizes include 20,’ 40,’ 40’ High Cube, and 45’ High Cube.

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Related Help Articles

How Much Cargo Fits in a Container? 

Overweight Cargo

Related Glossary Terms

TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) 

FEU (Forty-foot Equivalent Unit)