Container parts
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.
Why it matters
The locking bars hold the cargo doors shut and press them against the gasket. When bars are bent, a door can be hard to close or may not seal. Operators check that each bar turns freely, that the handle and hasp line up, and that the cams are not worn. A common mistake is to think the padlock is the only security. The bars, the cam keepers and a lock box all work together. Some thieves attack the weak point, so many customers add a shield over the lock. Before you rent or buy, open and close both doors and test every bar.
Read: Shipping container sizes and dimensions for rental fleets
Definition source: containerhandbuch.de
Related terms
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
container inspection
A container inspection is a check of a container's outside, inside, doors, floor and roof for damage, leaks and wear. Buyers do it before purchase. Operators do it when units go out and come back. It can be a quick look or a formal review to a standard.
For the industry
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