Flat rack shipping containers are used to transport goods with certain dimensions. They are a unique type of container as they do not have a roof or side walls.
This unit only has a solid flat base and walls at the ends of the unit. Therefore, you can use them to store and ship goods that cannot fit into standard containers, like ships, wood, cars, large pipes, and machines.
This container provides convenience and adaptation when transporting large items. You can use them for international shipping if equipped with a CSC plate.
Some other features include multiple lashing points in several parts that are useful for tying goods so that they do not shake or fall during the shipping process.
Many utilize flat rack shipping containers to transport heavy machinery due to their open sides, strong structural design, and high weight capacity.
These containers are specifically engineered to handle equipment that is oversized, overweight, or irregularly shaped, making them essential in industries like construction, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing.
To know more about the flat rack shipping containers, find out in this article!
Flat Rack Design
Although flat rack containers come in the 20′ and 40′ variants, unlike regular shipping containers, they have widely different designs and specifications!
There are two types of flat rack container designs – the first is the fixed ends, which have a solid end and cannot be folded.
The second one is collapsible, whose ends can be folded. The need to transport goods will affect the design you will use.
8 Benefits of Using Flat Rack Containers for Heavy Machinery
Flat racks offer many benefits across industries due to their unique design and advantages, the latter of which you can see below:
Easy to Load and Unload
The flat rack’s shape, which lacks side walls and a roof, makes it easy to load and unload.
Cranes, forklifts, or other machinery can access cargo from a variety of angles, allowing for efficient handling of large or heavy objects.
You can load machinery from the top, side, or end using forklifts, cranes, or winches. It will save time and allow safe handling of delicate or heavy equipment.
Customizable
Modify flat rack containers to meet specific load requirements. They are often available in a variety of sizes and can be customized with additional mounting points, accessories, or bracing to ensure safe transport of goods.
Affordable
You can transport specialized heavy machinery loads that are large and unique in shape using flat rack containers, which are more cost-effective than other shipping methods.
The design reduces the need for special packaging and ensures safe transportation without compromising safety.
Optimizing Space Utilization
You can fold and stack flat rack containers when not in use. It will save space during storage or re-shipping, which is beneficial in situations where storage space is limited.
Accessibility
This type of container offers significant advantages, making it a preferred choice in many industries that require specialized shipping solutions.
The open design of flat racks allows for easier access during inspections and facilitates securing of loads with straps, chains, or braces, ensuring stability during transportation.
Accommodates Oversized Dimensions
Flat racks have foldable sides, making them suitable for transporting large or irregularly shaped loads such as machinery, vehicles, or large industrial equipment.
The open sides and ends make it easy to load and unload from a variety of angles, offering versatility in moving goods.
Heavy machinery often exceeds the width or height of a standard shipping container. Flat racks have no side walls and sometimes no top, allowing for excavators with extended arms, large tractors, road rollers, and industrial drilling rigs.
Lashing and Securing
Flat rack containers have multiple lashing points on the floor and end walls. They will ensure machinery can be tightly secured with chains, straps, or bolts to prevent shifting during transit.
Intermodal Transport Compatibility
Flat racks are standardized to fit on ships, trucks, and rail systems. It makes moving heavy equipment across long distances safer and more efficient.
Common Types of Machinery Shipped on Flat Racks
Bulldozers
Bulldozers are typically too wide, too tall, or too heavy for standard enclosed containers. Flat racks are one of the most common and effective methods for transporting bulldozers and similar heavy equipment.
Flat racks have no side walls, allowing the dozer to extend beyond the container’s base if needed (within transport regulations).
Use chocks, chains, and lashing straps to prevent bulldozers from shifting.
Cranes & Boom Lifts
Flat rack shipping containers can transport cranes and boom lifts due to their open design and compatibility with irregular cargo.
Flat racks can carry up to 40-50 metric tons, they easily support the weight of construction-grade lifts and medium cranes.
Use built-in lashing rings and reinforced flooring to safely tie down the boom lift or crane.
For international shipping, confirm with your carrier whether the unit exceeds height or width limits for flat rack stowage on vessels.
Agricultural Harvesters
Flat rack containers are a safe, durable, and cost-effective solution for shipping agricultural harvesters, especially when traditional containers can not.
They ensure proper handling, efficient loading, and secure transport of your valuable farm machinery.
Harvesters can be driven onto the flat rack or lifted via crane or forklift. The open design allows for side or top access, making loading and unloading flexible.
Use tarps or shrink wrap to protect electronic and mechanical parts from moisture and salt air (especially for sea freight).
Drilling Equipment
Flat rack containers are a suitable method for transporting heavy, tall, or irregularly shaped drilling machinery and components.
Drilling equipment such as rig towers, compressors, pipe racks, and mud pumps often exceeds standard container dimensions.
Flat racks have no side walls and no roof, allowing equipment to overhang within legal limits.
They have lashing rings and reinforced floors to secure large equipment, essential when transporting over road, rail, or ocean.
Industrial Compressors
A flat rack is effective for shipping large industrial compressors that are too heavy or oddly shaped for standard containers.
It provides the access, strength, and stability required for safe transportation.
Industrial compressors often have large frames or tanks and extended piping or skid-mounted bases.
Flat racks provide open sides and no roof, allowing for flexible sizing and overhang within legal limits.
Asphalt Pavers
A flat rack container is one of the most commonly used methods for transporting asphalt pavers, oversized construction equipment.
Flat racks have no side walls or roof, making them perfect for wide tracks, tall control consoles, and long screeds.
Pavers can often be driven directly onto the flat rack if mobile. If not, you can lift them with a crane or a forklift, thanks to side and top access.
Remove detachable parts (like canopy frames or screeds) if needed to reduce height or width.
Flat Rack Container Recommendation
Tradecorp USA has flat rack containers that can cover your business needs and desires. Take a look at the details and specifications of our container here:
20’ Collapsible Flat Rack
A Collapsible Flat Rack is a type that has a foldable end to make the loading and unloading process easier and more flexible.
This type of flat rack consists of a floor structure with a high loading capacity composed of a steel frame, a softwood floor, and two collapsible end walls.
The end walls are stable enough to allow cargo securing means to be attached and several flat racks to be stacked on top of one another.
40′ Flat Rack Shipping Containers
The 40’ flat rack container is an ideal solution designed to transport heavy and unconventional cargo that may not fit into standard containers.
This container is built with reinforced frames and strong corner posts to accommodate heavy loads. When empty, the collapsible end design allows for convenient stacking by simply placing both end walls down, optimizing space efficiency.
The versatility of the 40ft flat rack container makes it ideal for storing and transporting a wide range of heavy items, including machinery, tractors, buses, pipes, trucks, and lumber.
Industries such as shipping, coal, oil, mining, construction, and steel frequently rely on this container type to facilitate the movement of equipment, supplies, and products.
Conclusion
Flat rack containers are not just good. They are purpose-built for transporting heavy, oversized machinery that can’t be shipped in standard enclosed containers.
To get a flat rack shipping container for your business needs, buy or rent from Tradecorp! With years of experience, Tradecorp is a reliable provider of sales, purchase, rental, and modification services.
Tradecorp also provides various types of containers, with a variety of sizes of 20’ or 40’ for cargo shipping, refrigerated, to modular containers. Consult your modification needs according to your wishes and get the best container sales and rental price offers from Tradecorp by filling out this quote form!