An
intermodal container is a large standardized
shipping container, designed and built for
intermodal freight transport, meaning these containers can be used across different
modes of transport – from
ship to rail to
truck – without unloading and reloading their cargo. Intermodal containers are primarily used to store and transport materials and products efficiently and securely in the global
containerized intermodal freight transport system, but smaller numbers are in regional use as well. These containers are known under a number of names, such as simply
container,
cargo or
freight container,
ISO container,
shipping, sea or
ocean container,
container van or
(Conex) box,
sea or
c can.