Container parts
top side rail
A top side rail is the long steel beam along the upper edge of each side of a container. It joins the upper corner castings and supports the roof. Each box has two. Together with the bottom rails they form the frame.
Why it matters
The top side rails carry stacking loads between the corner castings and hold the roof panel in place. They can be damaged when a box is hit by a crane, a loader or a tree, or when a customer drives into the roof edge. Operators watch for dents, cracks and rust at the weld points. A common mistake is to ignore a small ripple in the rail. That can be the sign of a hit that has strained the frame. Inspect the full length of both rails from the ground and from above if you can. Standing water on the roof near a rail can also speed up rust.
Read: Shipping container sizes and dimensions for rental fleets
Definition source: containerhandbuch.de
Related terms
bottom side rail
A bottom side rail is the long steel beam along the lower edge of each side of a container. It joins the corner castings and holds the cross members that support the floor. Each box has two. It is a main part of the base frame of the box.
corner post
A corner post is a vertical steel member at each corner of a container. It joins the top and bottom corner castings and carries stacking loads down through the frame. A container has four corner posts. The posts give the box its strength and are welded to the rails.
corner casting
A corner casting is a cast steel fitting at each corner of a container. Eight of them sit at the corners. Cranes, twistlocks and lashing gear grip them to lift, stack and secure the box. They are also called corner fittings.
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.
container repair
Container repair is work that fixes damage to a container, such as holes, dents, floors and doors. The IICL repair manual says the purpose of any repair is to restore structural integrity so the container can work safely in intermodal transport. Methods include straightening, welding, patching, inserting and replacing parts.
corrugated steel
Corrugated steel is sheet steel pressed into a pattern of ridges and valleys. Shipping containers use it for the walls and roof. The ridges add stiffness, so a thin panel resists bending and racking forces during ocean transport, lifting and everyday handling.
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