Shipping cargo securely and cost-effectively can be challenging when you’re dealing with odd-shaped loads.
Ordering the wrong container and equipment to transport your cargo could result in huge and unnecessary losses for your business; so if you’re looking for a solution to get all those difficult-to-handle items from A to B in one piece, you may want to check out Rentco’s flat rack containers.
What is a flat rack container?
A flat rack container is used for bulky or oversized loads that can’t fit into standard containers.
Flat racks are made up of a steel frame and softwood floor with end walls, but no ceiling or side walls. They are usually available at either 20ft or 40ft in size and can be stacked on top of one another.
Depending on the job, you can opt for either a fixed-end or collapsible flat rack. The former tends to be more durable and can support heavier loads stacked on top of it, while the latter can be collapsed to offer more space and efficiency during transportation.
Overall, these containers are quite versatile as they offer a lot of flexibility while helping to save on space and storage costs. For perspective, a stack of four flat racks is roughly equal in height to a standard container.
What are flat rack containers used for?
Fit to transport a wide range of cargo, and with a surprisingly high loading capacity of up to 4000kg for 40ft containers, some of the most common cargo that are transported via flat rack containers include:
- Vehicles and boats.
- Industrial machinery.
- Cylindrical containers (drums).
- Building materials.
- Transportable homes.
- Timber.
- Pipes.
How safe are flat rack containers to use?
Flat racks are quite safe and easy for your staff to move around, reducing the risk of injury and extra equipment costs.
To start with, flat rack containers don’t need an expensive ramp to be loaded up. They come with latching belts, lashing rings and winches to tie down cargo so that it is transported securely, and have forklift pockets so that they can be shifted around easily when empty.
By nature of its open design, workers can load the container from the top or sides and will have more visibility of any nearby traffic or hazards when unloading cargo. To protect certain cargo from the elements, these containers can be covered with a tarpaulin.
At Rentco, our 40ft collapsible flat rack containers are one of our most popular products that our customers can hire out for long and short-term leases.
If you need just a few flat racks for a one-off job or a short period of time, Rentco can provide you with some flexible rental options so that you don’t have to invest a lot of money in purchasing your own.
To learn more about our range of flat rack containers and other transport equipment available for rent, give us a call or find your nearest Rentco depot details through our website.
