Introduction of a new family of small intermodal boxes
(small containers)

A challenge in European freight transport

Johan Wichser, IVT ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Existing intermodal transport units – ISO containers and swapbodies – responds to 1/2 to 1/1 full truck loading and a assembling and distribution process is needed, when partial loading sizes –a growing market with more and more importance in freight transport -, will be transported in intermodal transport chains. To reduce handling costs and –time as well as to reduce the number of vans on urban roads, was created a proposal to standardise a European small container family in the frame of COST 339.

Boxes should respond to 1/4 or 1/2 of a swapbody class C with a length of 7.45. Within small loading sizes can be transported in intermodal transport chains. On rail and vessels small containers can be coupled to swapbodies. 1/4 boxes are useful for transportation in smaller tube systems.