Editing Intermodal container (section)

=== North American containers ===
[[File:AML SVETRUCK Whittier 411 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Container "Toplifter" forklift moving two empty {{convert|53|ft|m|adj=on}} boxes by their {{convert|40|ft|m|adj=on}} posts]]The North American market has widely adopted containerization, especially for domestic shipments that need to move between road and rail transport.<ref name="ELG-APLboxes" /> While they appear similar to the ISO-standard containers, there are several significant differences: they are considered High-Cubes based on their {{convert|9|ft|6|in|m|2|abbr=on|adj=on}} ISO-standard height, their {{convert|102|in|m||adj=on}} width matches the maximum width of road vehicles in the region but is {{convert|6|in|cm|0}} wider than ISO-standard containers,<ref name="PNW48-53Dim">{{cite web |url=http://www.pnwgroup.com/container-dimensions-48-and-53 |title=Container Dimensions 48' and 53' |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=PNW Equipment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005223615/http://www.pnwgroup.com/container-dimensions-48-and-53 |archive-date=5 October 2014}}</ref> and they are often not built strong enough to endure the rigors of ocean transport.<ref name="ELG-APLboxes" />

==== 48-foot containers ====
The first North American containers to come to market were {{convert|48|ft|m}} long. This size was introduced by container shipping company [[American President Lines]] (APL) in 1986.<ref name="ELG-APLboxes">{{cite web |url=http://exportlogisticsguide.com/apl-introduces-53-foot-ocean-containers/ |title=APL Introduces 53 Foot Ocean Containers |last=Crowe |first=Paul |date=2 November 2007 |website=Export Logistics Guide |access-date=25 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104235508/http://exportlogisticsguide.com/apl-introduces-53-foot-ocean-containers |archive-date=4 November 2013}}</ref> The size of the containers matched new federal regulations passed in 1983 which prohibited states from outlawing the operation of single trailers shorter than {{convert|48|ft|m}} long or {{convert|102|in|cm}} wide.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blaszak |first=Michael W. |date=1 May 2006 |title=Intermodal equipment |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/train-basics/abcs-of-railroading/intermodal-equipment/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=[[Trains Magazine]] |language=en-US}}</ref> This size being {{convert|8|ft|m|2}} longer and {{convert|6|in|cm|0}} wider has 29% more volume capacity than the standard 40-ft High-Cube,<ref name="HofstraFeetcapacity">{{cite web |url=https://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch3en/conc3en/containerscubic.html |title=Carrying Capacity of Containers (in cubic feet) |author=Jean-Paul Rodrigue |date=2006 |website=The Geography of Transport Systems |publisher=[[Hofstra University]] |access-date=25 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903224640/http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch3en/conc3en/containerscubic.html |archive-date=3 September 2013}}</ref> yet costs of moving it by truck or rail are almost the same.

==== 53-foot containers ====
[[File:Swift 53ft shipping container.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|Swift {{convert|53|ft|m|adj=on}} intermodal container]]

In the late 1980s, the federal government announced it would once again allow an increase in the length of trailers to {{convert|53|ft|m}} at the start of 1990. Anticipating this change, 53-foot containers were introduced in 1989.  These large boxes have 60% more capacity than 40-foot containers, enabling shippers to consolidate more cargo into fewer containers.<ref name=HofstraFeetcapacity /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.containertech.com/container-sales/53ft-high-cube-container-domestic/ |title=53ft High Cube Container {{pipe}} 53' High Cube Container |publisher=Container Technology, Inc. |access-date=1 February 2013 |archive-date=9 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509084449/https://containertech.com/container-sales/53ft-high-cube-container-domestic/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freightdawg.com/2007/11/big-boxes-bring.html |title=Big Boxes bring Big Questions – |first=Eric |last=Joiner |work=Freightdawg.com |date=5 November 2007 |access-date=1 February 2013}}</ref>

In 2007, APL introduced the first 53-foot ocean-capable containers designed to withstand voyages on its South China-to-Los Angeles service.<ref name=ELG-APLboxes/> In 2013, APL stopped offering vessel space for 53-foot containers on its trans-Pacific ships.<ref name=JocAPL53Seabox>{{cite news |author=JOC staff |date=15 March 2013  |title=APL Abandons 53-Foot Ocean Containers |url=http://www.joc.com/maritime-news/container-lines/apl/apl-abandons-53-foot-ocean-containers_20130315.html |newspaper=[[The Journal of Commerce]] |location=Newark, New Jersey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515023348/http://www.joc.com/maritime-news/container-lines/apl/apl-abandons-53-foot-ocean-containers_20130315.html |archive-date=15 May 2013 }}</ref> In 2015 both [[Crowley Maritime|Crowley]] and TOTE Maritime each announced the construction of their respective second combined container and [[roll-on/roll-off]] ships for Puerto Rico trade, with the specific design to maximize cubic cargo capacity by carrying 53-foot, {{convert|102|in|0|adj=mid|wide}} containers.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Construction Begins on Crowley's Second Commitment Class ConRo Ship for Use in the Puerto Rico Trade |url=http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/construction-begins-on-crowleys-second-commitment-class-lng-powered-conro-ship-for-use-in-the-puerto-rico-trade/ |newspaper=Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide |location=Piraeus, Greece |date=28 May 2015 |access-date=24 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724174029/http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/construction-begins-on-crowleys-second-commitment-class-lng-powered-conro-ship-for-use-in-the-puerto-rico-trade/ |archive-date=24 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Containers for world's first LNG-powered container ships arrive at Jaxport |url=http://www.jaxport.com/newsroom/news/containers-for-world%E2%80%99s-first-lng-powered-container-ships-arrive-at-jaxport |publisher=[[Jacksonville Port Authority]] |location=Jacksonville, Florida |date=16 June 2015 |access-date=24 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724192046/http://www.jaxport.com/newsroom/news/containers-for-world%E2%80%99s-first-lng-powered-container-ships-arrive-at-jaxport |archive-date=24 July 2015}}</ref> Within Canada, [[Oceanex]] offers 53-foot-container ocean service to and from Newfoundland.<ref>{{cite news|title=Oceanex Invests $8 Million to Expand its Refrigerated Services |url=http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/oceanex-invests-8-million-to-expand-its-refrigerated-services-517964831.html | access-date=26 December 2015}}</ref> 53-foot containers are also being used on some Asia Pacific international shipping routes.<ref name=Hennemand/>

==== Canadian 60-foot containers ====
In April 2017, [[Canadian Tire]] and [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] announced deployment of what they claimed to be the first '''60-foot''' intermodal containers in North America.<ref name="CPR1">{{citation|title=Canadian Pacific and Canadian Tire Corporation Deploy North America's First 60-foot Intermodal Container |url=http://www.cpr.ca/en/media/cp-and-canadian-tire-corporation-deploy-north-americas-first-60-foot-intermodal-container |date=27 April 2017 | access-date=3 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511052334/http://www.cpr.ca/en/media/cp-and-canadian-tire-corporation-deploy-north-americas-first-60-foot-intermodal-container|archive-date=2017-05-11|url-status=dead}}</ref> The containers are transportable on the road using specially configured trucks and telescoping trailers (where vehicle size limits permit it), and on the railway using the top positions of double-stack container cars.<ref name="TruckNews1">{{citation|author1-last=Menzies|author1-first=James|title=Canadian Tire's push for 60|url=https://www.trucknews.com/transportation/canadian-tires-push-60/1003076548/|date=2016-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226075417/https://www.trucknews.com/transportation/canadian-tires-push-60/1003076548/|archive-date=2016-12-26|url-status=live|website=TruckNews.com|access-date=2024-11-07|quote=McKenna has been pursuing the use of 60-ft. containers for several years now. It began as an idea to transition to 57-ft. containers, capable of accommodating two additional pallets, but he upped the ante when he saw another retailer was pulling a 60-ft. trailer on Ontario roads.}}</ref> According to initial projections, Canadian Tire believed it would allow them to increase the volume of goods shipped per container by 13%.<ref name="CPR1" /> Five years after the deployment of the containers, analyst Larry Gross observed that United States truck size regulations are more constraining than those in Canada, and predicted that for the foreseeable future, these larger containers would remain exclusive to Canada.<ref name="Trains1">{{citation|author1-last=Gunnoe|author1-first=Chase|title=Analysis: Canada's 60-foot container will likely stay north of the border|url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/analysis-canadas-60-foot-container-will-likely-stay-north-of-the-border/|date=2022-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226015009/https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/analysis-canadas-60-foot-container-will-likely-stay-north-of-the-border/|archive-date=2024-02-26|url-status=live|website=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]] website|access-date=2024-11-07|quote=It's been five years since Canadian Pacific and retail giant Canadian Tire Corp. unveiled North America's first 60-foot intermodal container, and intermodal analyst Larry Gross says the larger container type is probably going to remain exclusive to Canada for the foreseeable future.}}</ref>