This report considers the risks associated with transporting ISO Containers by road and rail. Each year millions of these containers are moved around the world by road, rail and sea, 4.8 million being handled at UK ports in 2012. Containers offer an efficient, secure and safe means of transporting goods over long distances and between different modes of transport. On the railway, asymmetric loading / a high centre of gravity increases the potential for wheel unloading leading to a derailment. There are similar risks for road transportation, with an increased risk of instability and overturning. In practice, emphasis is placed on the speedy and accurate transfer of containers between transport modes rather than the assessment of load distribution which could impact on efficiency and productivity of the interchange. (Author/publisher)
Abstract