Container chassis
Also known as: Chassis · Skeletal trailer · Container trailer · Sase · Container carrier
A container chassis is a semi-trailer frame built to carry shipping containers. Twist-locks at the corners hold the container in place; there is no floor or body of its own.
Names in other languages
- English
- Container chassis
- Türkçe
- Konteyner şasisi
- فارسی
- تریلی کانتینربر
- Русский
- Контейнерный полуприцеп (шасси)
- 简体中文
- 集装箱骨架车（底盘车）
- العربية
- هيكل نقل الحاويات (شاسيه)
Specifications
Typical figures — they vary by manufacturer and by country rules on weights and sizes.
| Internal length | 12,192 mm |
|---|---|
| Internal width | 2,438 mm |
| Max payload | 28,000–32,000 kg |
| Loading method | Top |
Typical cargo
Shipping containers of all types — dry, reefer (with a genset), open top, flat rack, and tank — on the road leg of sea freight.
In plain words
The most common chassis takes one 40' or 45' container, or two 20' containers. Extendable chassis can take longer units, and special tilting chassis can tip bulk containers. Cranes or reach stackers at the port lift the container on and off from above, so the cargo inside is never handled.
Container trucking moves boxes between ports, rail terminals, and the shipper's or receiver's door. The container's weight (its VGM) must fit the road limits: a heavy 20' can be over the limit for some chassis and countries, so check the gross weight before loading. Delays at the port or the warehouse can lead to waiting charges and detention.
Advantages
- Moves containers door to door without touching the cargo.
- Light and simple, with high payload.
- Works with reach stackers, cranes, and rail terminals.
Limits
- Only carries containers.
- Heavy containers can exceed road weight limits.
- Waiting at ports or warehouses can add charges.
Example from real shipping
An importer's container arrives in Mersin. A truck with a 40' chassis collects it at the terminal, drives it to the importer's warehouse in Adana, and waits while it is unloaded. The empty container then goes back to the shipping line's depot to stop the detention clock.
Related terms
- 20' DVA 20' DV is the standard 20-foot closed steel container for general dry cargo. It is the smallest common ocean container.
- 40' HCA 40' HC is a 40-foot container that is about 30 cm (one foot) taller than a standard 40'. It gives more space for light, bulky cargo.
- VGMVGM is the checked total weight of a packed container: cargo, packaging, dunnage, and the container itself. The shipper must give it to the line before the container can be loaded on a ship.
- Road vehicle typesA side-by-side comparison of the trucks and trailers used in road freight: load space, payload, volume, pallet places, loading method, and typical cargo.
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Request a QuoteThis glossary is general information, not legal or customs advice. Rules, fees, and practice can differ by carrier, port, and country.