How the Humble Container Revolutionised International Shipping

Get a free quote today

to find out costs and procedures involved in shipping your car from Australia to New Zealand.

Posted on 8th September 2013 – Shipping Vehicles


 

Consumer goods and their components come from all over the world and are shipped all over the world. When we watch TV or warm up a meal in a microwave oven, we don’t think about the journey our appliances, and other items that we take for granted, took. And certainly not about shipping containers, without which, however, modern shipping wouldn’t be what it is, and goods wouldn’t be as affordable.

Obviously, there always were some sorts of boxes to transport cargo from A to B, but the issue was that there were countless sizes, and containers weren’t easy to move from trains to vehicles or ships and vice versa. What the container brought to shipping is standardisation, which led to cost efficiencies, and inter-modality, which also made shipping more economical, as well as increase the safety of goods, and reduce breakage and shipping times.

The first attempts to create a container as we know it, i.e. a re-usable, durable and stackable box which could be loaded and unloaded quickly, wasn’t a simple process, as it required all countries to agree to standardised container sizes and corner fittings positions, and for shipping companies to basically stop using their own containers and go to the expense of buying new stock. But within the course of a couple of decades, the specifications of containers and all the equipment required to handle them, including lifting machines in ports, were defined through a series of ISOs standards and adhered to by the whole industry.

Containers don’t only make it cheaper to transport goods, they also protect them from theft, as they are difficult to break into. In addition, in a sea of identical boxes, it is impossible to locate specific cargo without the shipping documents, which are electronically secured.

Click here to see our reference guide to making car shipping stress free with our tried and tested 1-2-3 step process.


Our easy - 3 step shipping process

×
Advise pick-up location
Documents & shipping
Delivered to your door

Tell us the pick up location and we'll arrange a date & time

We handle all customs & shipping including insurance

Enjoy your toy, after it's delivered to your door anywhere in NZ.

Get Started


Related articles

Cost Analysis of Importing a Vehicle to New Zealand
Posted on 24th July 2024
Explore the costs of importing a vehicle to NZ with our guide. Understand all the import fees impacting your budget, and discover how Cars2NZ can help.
Read more


The Benefits of Transporting Your Car or Work Vehicle
Posted on 19th December 2022
Are you moving houses or relocating to a new city? We share the benefits of hiring vehicle shipping companies when it comes to transporting your cars!
Read more


How to Get a Warrant of Fitness When Importing Your Car into New Zealand
Posted on 1st September 2018
Before a vehicle is allowed on New Zealand roads, it must pass technical tests to check that it is roadworthy and that it meets environmental standards. The process is called ‘entry certification’ at the end of which you will be issued with a Warrant of Fitness.
Read more


How to Import a Car From Japan to Australia
Posted on 30th April 2017
Japan is well known for its high cost of living, so it may surprise you to hear that it is a great place to buy everyday second-hand cars. With a reputation for great quality and longevity, they are indeed a very attractive proposition and more people in our corner of the world turn towards that country to find bargains.
Read more


Increased measures - Takata airbag recall.. Read more.