Crane lifts shipping container stuck to trailer - GIF

[Elizabeth Greene]

I bet next time the driver double checks all of the corner locks to make sure they are released

Do you have a picture of how the corner locks work? I've never seen them up close.

[Frank S]

Do you have a picture of how the corner locks work? I've never seen them up close.

I don't think I have any pictures of any on any trailer I've owned or worked on will have to dig into my photo's files to check
But here is a web picture of one. The ones I like are the retractable so when they are not needed they drop down flush with the trailer floor
This one is fixed non retractable the kind you would find on the specialty container chassis just give the lever a 90° turn the crown rotates and locks in the socket on the container

This one is a flush mount same principle but you push it up then the stub locks in place until the container is lowered over it then rotate the lever to lock it

[Elizabeth Greene]

...
But here is a web picture of one....

My respect for crane operators just went up a notch. Setting those containers down must be a high tolerance operation. That's an impressive bit of skill.

[Frank S]

My respect for crane operators just went up a notch. Setting those containers down must be a high tolerance operation. That's an impressive bit of skill.

Some of those operators are sitting in a gondola 60 feet above the ground when they do this as well so it is not like you are standing right next to the container and can see the location, the one saving grace is the locks are somewhat self-guiding and the sockets in the corners of the containers have an inverted taper to them allowing for a little fudge room until contact is made. But they can do this in all kinds of weather even at night so yes they are not just someone walking off the street saying he is an operator They must first sit through hours upon hours of safety and training classes then work as an apprentice operator with a supervisor looking over their shoulder for a period of time.

[Frank S]

Do you have a picture of how the corner locks work? I've never seen them up close.

Ok I did find a picture of a trailer we off loaded one of the containers from that had the locks but I had already jacked up the container and placed my UHMW clad slide blocks under the container.



We winched the container off sideways rotating it 90° onto our Landol trailer

then slid it to the ground at the corner of my shop

[Toolmaker51]

Ok I did find a picture of a trailer we off loaded <<<snip>>>

I too see, container pockets have potential beyond shipping environment. Frank's picture shows a toe jack, lifting the container to get slides under. Another method uses a 'hook' or lug more correctly on the backside of an angle iron. Lug engages the tiedown hole on the side corners, the flat positions a standard (but large enough) bottle jack. Underneath, those openings make a solid but temporary mount for casters.

There is an organization in charge of shipping container specifications, with dimensioned drawings for all the features in various type containers.

[Frank S]

I too see, container pockets have potential beyond shipping environment. Frank's picture shows a toe jack, lifting the container to get slides under. Another method uses a 'hook' or lug more correctly on the backside of an angle iron. Lug engages the tiedown hole on the side corners, the flat positions a standard (but large enough) bottle jack. Underneath, those openings make a solid but temporary mount for casters.

There is an organization in charge of shipping container specifications, with dimensioned drawings for all the features in various type containers.

That hydraulic toe jack is just 1 of many toe jacks I have You cannot believe how many tiems it has been the go to lifting device for raising things to be moved especially containers since I can place it at one of the forklift openings lift the side or the end then place either my rollers or slide blocks under them.

This site has many of the more common container dimensions.
https://tscok.com/shipping-container-specifications/
There are also land or rail to truck containers not meant for sea cargo these are 48 and 53 ft in lengths but will lock into a chassis designed for a 45 ft container