Container parts
cargo door
A cargo door is one of the two hinged steel doors at the end of a standard shipping container. The doors close on rubber gaskets and lock with vertical locking bars. They are the main way in and out of a container.
Why it matters
The cargo doors are the part of a container customers use most. A good door swings freely, seals tight and locks with the bars. Bent doors, worn hinges and torn gaskets let in water and make a box harder to secure. Operators check doors on every return and repair or replace them as needed. A common mistake is to assume a door that closes is a door that seals. Look for daylight and water stains inside. The doors also make a container easy to open with the wrong tools, so many customers add a lock box. Ask about door condition before you rent or buy.
Read: Shipping container sizes and dimensions for rental fleets
Definition source: containerhandbuch.de
Related terms
door gasket
A door gasket is the rubber seal around the cargo door opening of a container. It presses against the closed doors to keep out rain, snow and dust. Parts lists describe it as a seal gasket. A worn gasket is a common cause of leaks.
door locking bar
A door locking bar is a vertical steel rod on a container door. It turns in cam keepers at the top and bottom of the frame to lock the door tight and compress the gasket. Each door normally has one or two bars.
cam keeper
A cam keeper is a steel bracket on the top and bottom of a container door frame. The cam on the locking bar sits in it. When the bar turns, the cam locks into the keeper and holds the door closed.
lock box
A lock box is a steel housing that fits over a padlock on a container door. It encloses the lock to block bolt cutters and other tools. Bolt-on and weld-on lock boxes are common add-ons for storage containers. It adds theft protection but is not a full security system.
hasp
A hasp is a hinged metal strap with a slot. It folds over a staple or loop and takes a padlock. On a container, the hasp on the door handle locks the locking bar in place. Standard ISO hasps are common.
door opening
Door opening is the width and height of the clear opening when a container's doors are open. It is smaller than the container's inside width and height because of the door frame and header. Carrier specs list door opening separately from inside size.
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