Swap body
Encyclopedia
A swap body is a standard freight container
for road and rail transport.
Basic standardization is set with Euronorms EN 283, EN 284 and EN 452 for construction and design, as well as EN 13044 for marking and identification. The panel responsible for developing standards is CEN/TC 119. The outcome of this panel has not yet provided any contribution to automation, as handling the swap bodies is a traditional haulage business with truck drivers involved.
The design of swap bodies is optimized to minimize empty weight, saving on initial purchase cost (less materials required to manufacture) and on trucking fuel cost (less dead weight to be transported). As a consequence, swap bodies are not stackable or liftable, unlike the more widespread shipping containers
(ISO containers). This makes them unsuitable for ship-based overseas transportation. Because of security concerns, the number of swap bodies with a hard surface instead of curtains and tarpaulins is increasing.
Swap bodies are typically more expensive than equivalent payload ISO containers. This is because the ISO containers used in Europe are typically manufactured in China, whereas swap bodies are made in Europe (central Europe and the UK). The lighter weight of the body offsets this cost in fuel savings during transport and increased cargo capacity.
Swap bodies often have the same external width of corner fittings as shipping containers, so that they can be placed on the same kinds of truck
s, trailers
and railroad cars designed for shipping containers. However, to optimize the carriage of pallet
s, wide bodies are often scaled to the maximum width allowed for standard road trucks and railroad cars and to a different length accommodating a quantity of Euro-pallets (0.8 by 1.2 m (31.5 by 47.2 in)) without leaving empty space.
Many swap bodies are fitted with four up-folding legs under their frame, to make it possible to change or “swap” their body from one carriage to another, or to leave the swap body at a destination, without using a crane or hoist
.
Special swap bodies may have more doors or sliding panels than ordinary hard boxes for trucks, railroad cars or sea containers, making unloading and loading faster and easier.
Many swap bodies are fitted with key hole tracking to house a range of extras such as shoring bars and cargo nets to extend its uses in various applications. Recently a second flooring using folding shelfs has been used to aid postal companies.
Special steel frames or racks are available in certain container ship
s and container marshalling yards to hoist swap bodies from topside.
All swap bodies are subject to extensive non-destructive (in most cases) testing, some in-house others not, regulated by certifying authorities.
Intermodal container
An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
for road and rail transport.
Basic standardization is set with Euronorms EN 283, EN 284 and EN 452 for construction and design, as well as EN 13044 for marking and identification. The panel responsible for developing standards is CEN/TC 119. The outcome of this panel has not yet provided any contribution to automation, as handling the swap bodies is a traditional haulage business with truck drivers involved.
The design of swap bodies is optimized to minimize empty weight, saving on initial purchase cost (less materials required to manufacture) and on trucking fuel cost (less dead weight to be transported). As a consequence, swap bodies are not stackable or liftable, unlike the more widespread shipping containers
Intermodal container
An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
(ISO containers). This makes them unsuitable for ship-based overseas transportation. Because of security concerns, the number of swap bodies with a hard surface instead of curtains and tarpaulins is increasing.
Swap bodies are typically more expensive than equivalent payload ISO containers. This is because the ISO containers used in Europe are typically manufactured in China, whereas swap bodies are made in Europe (central Europe and the UK). The lighter weight of the body offsets this cost in fuel savings during transport and increased cargo capacity.
Swap bodies often have the same external width of corner fittings as shipping containers, so that they can be placed on the same kinds of truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s, trailers
Semi-trailer
A semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported by a road tractor, a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly, or the tail of another trailer...
and railroad cars designed for shipping containers. However, to optimize the carriage of pallet
Pallet
A pallet , sometimes called a skid, is a flat transport structure that supports goods in a stable fashion while being lifted by a forklift, pallet jack, front loader or other jacking device. A pallet is the structural foundation of a unit load which allows handling and storage efficiencies...
s, wide bodies are often scaled to the maximum width allowed for standard road trucks and railroad cars and to a different length accommodating a quantity of Euro-pallets (0.8 by 1.2 m (31.5 by 47.2 in)) without leaving empty space.
Many swap bodies are fitted with four up-folding legs under their frame, to make it possible to change or “swap” their body from one carriage to another, or to leave the swap body at a destination, without using a crane or hoist
Hydraulic hooklift hoist
Hydraulic hooklift hoists are mounted on heavy duty trucks to enable hauliers to change out flatbeds, dumpster bodies, and similar containers. Primarily used in conjunction with tilt frame bodies and specialised containers, generally designed for the transportation of materials in the waste,...
.
Special swap bodies may have more doors or sliding panels than ordinary hard boxes for trucks, railroad cars or sea containers, making unloading and loading faster and easier.
Many swap bodies are fitted with key hole tracking to house a range of extras such as shoring bars and cargo nets to extend its uses in various applications. Recently a second flooring using folding shelfs has been used to aid postal companies.
Special steel frames or racks are available in certain container ship
Container ship
Container ships are cargo ships that carry all of their load in truck-size intermodal containers, in a technique called containerization. They form a common means of commercial intermodal freight transport.-History:...
s and container marshalling yards to hoist swap bodies from topside.
All swap bodies are subject to extensive non-destructive (in most cases) testing, some in-house others not, regulated by certifying authorities.
See also
- ContainerizationContainerizationContainerization is a system of freight transport based on a range of steel intermodal containers...
- ContainerliftContainerliftA sidelifter is a specialised truck or semi-trailer used to hoist and transport ISO standard intermodal containers over longer distances.The sidelifter loads and unloads containers via a pair of hydraulic powered cranes mounted at each end of the vehicle chassis...
- Semi-trailerSemi-trailerA semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported by a road tractor, a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly, or the tail of another trailer...
- ULDUnit Load DeviceA unit load device , is a pallet or container used to load luggage, freight, and mail on wide-body aircraft and specific narrow-body aircraft. It allows a large quantity of cargo to be bundled into a single unit. Since this leads to fewer units to load, it saves ground crews time and effort and...