Typical flat rack loads
Flat racks carry what closed boxes cannot: construction and farm machinery, vehicles, boats, transformers, large pipes and steel structures. Cargo can be loaded from the sides or from above by crane or forklift, and it is secured with chains, straps and the lashing points built into the floor and posts. Because the cargo is exposed, it often needs wrapping against rain and salt spray.
Out-of-gauge planning and stowage
Cargo on a flat rack often extends beyond the container's outline, which makes it out of gauge in width, height or both. Carriers ask for exact dimensions, weight, center of gravity and lifting points before accepting it. Over-width loads block neighboring slots on the vessel, and over-height ones go on top of a stack, so the carrier may charge for the lost space. Terminals often need advance notice, and lifting may require special frames or slings.
Pickup planning starts before discharge
A flat rack is tracked by its container number like any box, but its exceptions differ. Out-of-gauge cargo is more likely to be rolled when space or lifting capacity runs short, and some routings avoid transshipping it. At destination the trucker usually needs a specialized trailer and sometimes a permit for a wide load, so plan the pickup before discharge rather than after. In ISO 6346 size-type codes, flat racks belong to the platform group marked P.
Example
An excavator too wide for any closed container ships from Antwerp on a 40 ft flat rack, chained to the floor and booked as over-width cargo with the carrier's approval.
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Official sources
Questions
What does Flat Rack Container mean?
A flat rack container is a strong floor with end walls but no side walls or roof, built for heavy, wide or tall cargo that will not fit in a closed box. Many have end walls that fold flat so empties can be stacked.
Is a flat rack the same as a platform container?
Close, but not identical. A flat rack has end walls, fixed or folding, while a platform is only a floor with corner fittings. Both are used for heavy and oversized cargo.
Can a flat rack carry cargo that fits within its outline?
Yes. Heavy cargo that stays in gauge is sometimes shipped on a flat rack because it is easier to load from the side or above, and such units stow like normal containers.