1. What is container shipping?
Containerization is a global system of intermodal cargo transport using standardized containers, which can be loaded and sealed intact onto container ships, railroad cars, planes and trucks. Prior to the introduction of containers, cargo handling for sea transportation was both time consuming and expensive. Containers have changed that fundamentally. Transport is now safer and more affordable than ever before.
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2. What are the common standard lengths of shipping containers?
There are five common standard lengths, 20-ft (6.1 m), 40-ft (12.2 m), 45-ft (13.7 m), 48-ft (14.6 m), and 53-ft (16.2 m). United States domestic standard containers are generally 48 ft (15 m) and 53-ft (rail and truck).
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3. What is the standard Container capacity?
Container capacity is often expressed in twenty foot equivalent units
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4. What is TEU?
Twenty-foot Equivalent Units
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5. What is the equivalent unit?
An equivalent unit is a measure of containerized cargo capacity equal to one standard 20 ft (length) × 8 ft (width) container. As this is an approximate measure, the height of the box is not considered, for instance the 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m) High cube and the 4-ft 3-in (1.3 m) half height 20 ft (6.1 m) containers are also called one TEU.
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6. What is the maximum gross mass for a 20 ft  and 40 ft cargo containers?
The maximum gross mass for a 20 ft (6.1 m) dry cargo container is 30,480 kg, and for a 40-ft (including the 2.87 m (9 ft 6 in) high cube container), it is 34,000 kg. Allowing for the tare mass of the container, the maximum payload mass is therefore reduced to approximately 28,380 kg for 20 ft (6.1 m), and 30,100 kg for 40 ft (12 m) containers. .
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7. What is Tare weight or Mass?
 Tare weight, sometimes called un laden weight, is the weight of an empty vehicle or container. By subtracting it from the gross weight (laden weight), the weight of the goods carried (the net weight) may be determined. This can be useful in computing the cost of the goods carried for purposes of taxation (sometimes called a tariff) or for tolls related to barge, rail, road, or other traffic, especially where the toll will vary with the value of the goods carried (e.g., tolls on the Erie Canal). Tare weight is often published upon the sides of railway cars and transport vehicles to facilitate the computation of the load carried.
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8. What is Payload? 
This refers to the total load that a shipping container can carry.
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9. What is shipping container rating?
The rating is the maximum weight of the contents which is permissible including the weight of the shipping container.
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10. How are shipping containers identified?
The shipping container has stickers that demonstrate its tare weight, rating and payload. The sticker demonstrating the identification code is also placed inside and outside the container wall. The identification code helps to identify the owner of the shipping container and the number of containers. This data is used in tracing and controlling the container, bill of lading and to better monitor cargo.
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11. What are the types of Shipping Containers?
There are two types of containers, general and special.

Dry cargo or general purpose containers: these are commonly used in the shipping industry because of the strong and waterproof nature.

Special cargo container: a tank container for transporting chemicals and a thermal container for transporting goods like fruits, meat, etc are used as cargo containers.