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Container glossary · plain-English definitions

Container terminology, defined honestly.

The container industry runs on acronyms — CSC, CW, OT, WWT, TEU, ISO 6346. Most sellers assume you know them. We don't. Here's a plain-English glossary of every term that matters, with cross-links to deeper guides where applicable.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I L M O P R S T V W

A

AS-IS
The lowest container condition grade. Damaged, possibly leaking, structural issues — sold without condition guarantees. For modifiers + welders who can repair, not for working storage. Read more →

B

Bottom rail
The steel beam running along the bottom edge of each side of the container. The bottom rails sit on cribbing or foundation. Keeping them dry is critical — bottom-rail rot is the most common container failure mode. Read more →

C

Cam handle
The mechanical lever that locks the cargo doors. Each door has 2-4 cam handles. They rotate vertical bars that engage locking pockets at the top and bottom. The cam handles are the security weak point — protect them with a lock-bar. Read more →
Cargo-Worthy (CW)
The most common used container grade. Still ship-ready (CSC plate valid), wind-tight, water-tight, but with visible cosmetic wear — dents, surface rust, mixed paint. The right grade for most storage use. Read more →
CON6 (also CONEX) (CONEX)
"Container Express" — a military term from the Korean War era. Today CONEX is interchangeable with "shipping container." If you're shopping for a CONEX, you're shopping for an ISO shipping container. Read more →
Corner casting
The steel block at each of the eight corners of a container. Corner castings are ISO-standard mating points for lifting, stacking (via twistlocks), and anchoring. Container loads transfer through the corner castings, not the bottom rails.
Corten steel
Weathering steel — the alloy used in shipping container walls + roof. Designed to develop a stable protective surface patina (cosmetic rust) that slows further corrosion. The orange-brown patina is normal, not failure. Read more →
Cribbing
The blocks (typically 4×6 pressure-treated timbers or concrete blocks) placed under each corner casting to hold the container above the ground. Critical for drainage, bottom-rail protection, and leveling on uneven sites. Read more →
CSC plate (CSC)
Convention for Safe Containers — the international certification stamped on the door that confirms a container is safe for ocean shipping. Cargo-Worthy and One-Trip containers have valid CSC plates; WWT and AS-IS don't. Read more →
Cubic capacity
The interior volume of a container, in cubic feet (US) or cubic meters (international). A 20ft Standard holds 1,165 cu ft / 33 m³. A 40ft High-Cube holds 2,700 cu ft / 76 m³. Read more →

D

Double-Door (DD)
A container with cargo doors at both ends (instead of just one end). Allows pass-through loading + unloading. Also called "tunnel" containers. Read more →
Drainage
Water management around a container. Standing water at the bottom rails accelerates rust. Proper drainage means cribbing + slight grade + clear path for water to flow away from the unit. Read more →
Dry van (DV)
A standard sealed shipping container (no specialty features). Used for general cargo. Most "standard" containers in the resale market are dry vans.

E

EPDM gasket
The rubber sealing material used in container door gaskets. EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is weather-resistant + UV-resistant. Standard household weather-stripping doesn't fit container door grooves. Read more →

F

Forklift pocket
The slot on the bottom of some containers (typically 20ft only) for forklift tines. Allows the container to be lifted by forklift instead of from the top. Not all 20fts have them; 40fts don't.

G

Galvanic corrosion
Accelerated rust where two dissimilar metals (e.g. steel + aluminum) touch. Often happens at aftermarket hardware attachment points. Prevented with compatible fasteners or plastic isolators. Read more →
Gasket
The rubber seal around each cargo door. The gasket compresses when the door closes, creating a weather-tight + pest-proof seal. Gaskets degrade over years — replace when cracked or compromised. Read more →

H

High-Cube (HC)
A container with 9'6" exterior height (vs. 8'6" for Standard). One foot taller — matters for workshops, conversions, and tall equipment. Same length + width as Standard. Read more →

I

Insulated container
A container with factory-installed insulation lining the walls + ceiling. Reduces temperature swings — important for chemicals, electronics, or any climate-sensitive storage. About 50-100% premium over Standard. Read more →
ISO 668
The international standard defining shipping container dimensions and ratings. All containers we sell are ISO 668 compliant. Determines that containers from different manufacturers can be stacked and shipped together.
ISO 6346
The international standard defining the alphanumeric marking system on containers — owner code, serial number, check digit, ISO type code. Painted on container doors + sides.
ISO type code
A 4-character code identifying container size + type. E.g., 22G1 = 20ft Standard Dry Van, 42G1 = 40ft Standard, 45G1 = 40ft High-Cube, 22R1 = 20ft Refrigerated. Stamped on every container. Read more →

L

Lock-bar
A steel bar that bolts over the container's cam handles to protect them from cutting + prying. Pair with a quality padlock for layered security. More important than the padlock itself. Read more →

M

Marine plywood floor
The 1 1/8" thick wood floor inside every shipping container. Marine-grade (resistant to moisture). Glued + screwed to steel cross-members. Solid wood; not particle board.
Max payload
The maximum weight a container can carry, in addition to its own tare weight. A 20ft Standard typically carries ~52,910 lbs of payload. A 40ft Standard carries ~59,040 lbs. Read more →

O

One-Trip (OT)
A container that has made one ocean voyage from the factory before being sold into the resale market. Essentially new — clean factory paint, minimal wear, premium price. Read more →
Open-Side
A container with hinged side panels that open the entire long side. Used for forklift loading, retail kiosks, food service. Specialty type — limited availability. Read more →
Open-Top
A container with a removable tarpaulin roof (instead of solid steel). Used for loading bulky tall items from above. Specialty type. Read more →

P

Padlock (shrouded-shackle)
A padlock with the shackle hidden inside a steel housing — bolt cutters can't get to the shackle. The right type of lock for container security. Read more →
Patina
The protective brown-orange surface coating that forms on corten steel as it weathers. The patina seals the steel against further corrosion. Normal and expected on used containers. Read more →

R

Reefer
Industry slang for a refrigerated container. Refrigerated containers have factory-installed insulation + an electrically-powered cooling unit. Used for cold storage, restaurants, pharma, ag. Read more →

S

Sea can
Slang for shipping container — from "sea cargo container." Used interchangeably with shipping container, conex, ISO container.
Specialty container
Any non-standard container type — refrigerated, insulated, double-door, open-top, open-sided. Supply varies; pricing typically 50-100% above Standard. Read more →
Standard container
A container with 8'6" exterior height (standard) + solid steel walls + roof + one end cargo door. The most common container type. Also called "dry van."

T

Tare weight
The empty weight of a container. A 20ft Standard tare is ~4,850 lbs. A 40ft Standard is ~8,160 lbs. Matters for delivery (truck rating) + transportation regulations. Read more →
TEU
Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit — the standard measure for container shipping volume. A 20ft container is 1 TEU; a 40ft is 2 TEU. Used in shipping industry capacity discussions.
Tilt-bed truck
A delivery truck with a hydraulic-tilting flatbed. The bed tilts, the container slides off onto the placement spot. Requires clear approach + level ground. Read more →
Twistlock
A connector that fits into corner castings to lock two containers together (typically for stacking). Industry-standard hardware; same locks used on container ships. Read more →

V

Vent
A passive louvered opening cut into the container wall to allow air circulation. Important for humid storage to prevent condensation. Standard containers have 2-4 small factory vents; aftermarket vents are common additions. Read more →

W

Wind + Water Tight (WWT)
A container condition grade — older than Cargo-Worthy, no longer rated for international shipping (CSC expired), but doors still seal + roof doesn't leak. Used for land-based storage where appearance + shipping certification don't matter. Read more →
Term not here?

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Container industry jargon is deep. If you've come across a term that isn't in this glossary, call us — we'll explain it on the phone and add it here for the next buyer.

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