CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific and retail giant Canadian Tire Corp., recently debuted North America’s first 60-foot intermodal container, according to a CP news release.
The 60-foot container, which was developed by the Canadian Tire team in partnership with the railroad, provides an additional seven feet from the current 53-foot container standard. It will allow the retail company to haul more freight per trainload.
This isn’t the first time CP and the Canadian Tire team have worked together. In 1994, the railroad worked with the company on the introduction of the industry’s first 53-foot container.
CP started testing the 60-foot container several months ago using a prototype based on existing 53-foot containers to mimic the new, longer container.
After Canadian tire and CP already developed the industry first 53 footer intermodal container when they developed the 60 footer container. After there was complaints from OTR truckers about the problems and legality of the 53 footer container when it would be worse when the 60 footer becomes the new standard.
I guess if the 60′ container becomes very useable, the new longer container possibly has to be on the top part of the stacked flatcar since the maximum length in the bottom part is 53′. I also guess that the 60′ container is for railroad use only.
How road legal is a 60′ container?
I’m not sure about Canada. In the US a flatbed trailer is allowed to overhang the trailer by 5′ on each end without permit just placards announcing “Oversize”. So in theory it might be legal. It really depends upon how the laws are enforced.
This loophole is how a 53′ refrigerated trailer can have the same interior volume as a 53′ dry van trailer. Frequently in empty equipment moves shipping companies will move a 40′ & a 20′ container on the same trailer(it works with empties but not loaded).
Speaking as a former OTR Truck Driver, I am firmly of the opinion that trailer lengths should never have been more than 48 feet, just taking one of those through an older Northeastern city or town was quite an experience.
Is this going to open the way to 60 foot truck trailers everywhere? Wouldn’t that further undermine the railroad industry? If it does undermine the railroads further, haven’t the they, along with CP, shot themselves in the foot?
Are these road legal in the US or is this for Canadian use only?
A couple thoughts.
1. I thought CP lost the Canadian Tire domestic IM business to CN.
2. A freight car vendor is trying to evsngelize 5 well cars for 53s for a higher payload to tare benefit. No takers because of the terminal impact. The extra 21′ of well space for a three 60′ well car not as impactful, but that doesn’t mean no terminal impact.
3. As mentioned the OTR impact, especially around urban ramps like Chicago, as well as some of the tighter truck docks. But probably not as issue at the big new distribution centers probably.
I know there was talk about 60 footers in the lower 48 ? Did the ICC ever pass it ? I agree with Mr Staten the 53′ bad enough. Add the tractor with a sleeper to that your looking at 75 to 80 feet of truck
Hope they don’t spread to local streets down here, the 53′ containers are bad enough.
NEVER under estimate CANDIAN PACIFIC