The Cargo Weight Limit for Shipping Containers

--For the United States and Canada

This article will introduce the cargo weight limit for shipping companies, railroad weight limit in the United States and Canada, Tri-axle weighing for highway transport in the United States, and cargo load restrictions for the Panama Canal.

First of all, the cargo weight limit for shipping companies is a very important link in the freight forwarding. Different shipping companies have diverse cargo weight limit policies, and different types of containers (20 feet/40 feet) have different weight limit standards, as well as various overweight fees. Therefore, the US-Canada line customers arrange the booking according to the actual cargo weight. The freight forwarder needs to know the container type and the actual cargo weight in advance, then choose the right shipping owner and inform the customer of the overweight cost before booking, so as to avoid the delay or extra cost due to the weight limit problem.

Meanwhile, in order to avoid overweight and extra cost, we need to advise customers to make a reasonable cargo loading plan to ensure that the goods are balanced during the loading, not exceeding the weight limit standard of the shipping company and railway.

Cargo Weight Limit for Shipping Companies

The limit of "weight" refers to the weight of the cargo itself, not including the weight of the container skin. Take the shipowner COSCO and MSC weight limit as an example. More information please contact us at info@yqn.com.

=> Base port weight limit

Shipowner: COSCO

20GP/40GP/40HQ/45HQ weight limit: refer to container door weight limit

Overweight surcharge: US $100/unit (19.9 t ≤ gross weight < 22 t)

                                     US $200/unit (22 t ≤ gross weight < 24 t)

                                     US $300/unit (24 t ≤ gross weight < 26 t)

                                     US $400/unit (26 t ≤ gross weight < container door weight limit)

Shipowner: MSC

20GP/ 40GP/ 40HQ/ 45HQ weight limit: refer to container door weight limit, except for New Orleans

New Orleans overweight surcharge: US $325/20GP (21.3 t < gross weight < 24 t)

Railroad Weight Limit in the United States and Canada

The US-Canada rail transport system includes BNSF, UP, CS, CP, CN and many other railway companies, which have their own connection limit standards. We need to understand the inland point weight limit policy of the shipowner’s cooperative railway company, and choose the right owner and the port of unloading according to the weight of the cargo.

=> Railroad weight limit at inland points

Shipowner: COSCO

The weight limits differ by the unloading ports, and the overweight surcharge is charged by levels. Need to check by specific inland points and cargo gross weight. More information please contact us at info@yqn.com.

E.g. Transfer at the US southwest base ports

20GP/40GP/40HQ weight limit: gross weight ≤ 19.9 t

Overweight surcharge: US $200/unit (17.2 t ≤ gross weight ≤ 19.9 t)

E.g. Transfer at the Canadian base ports to the Canadian inland points

20GP weight limit: gross weight ≤ 21.7 t

40GP/40HQ weight limit: gross weight ≤ 27 t

Shipowner: MSC

The weight limits differ by the unloading ports (ON DOCK/ OFF DOCK), and the overweight surcharge is charged by levels. Need to check by specific inland points and cargo gross weight. More information please contact us at info@yqn.com.

E.g. Transfer at the US West base ports to ATLANTA, GA, OFF DOCK

20GP weight limit: gross weight ≤ 17.32 t

Overweight surcharge: US $350/20GP (17.32 t ≤ gross weight ≤ 19.95 t), Triaxle Surcharge

40GP/40HQ weight limit: gross weight ≤19.95 t

E.g. Transfer at Prince Rupert, BC or Vancouver, BC to Canadian inland points

20GP overweight surcharge: US $500/20GP (21.72 t ≤ gross weight ≤ 24.94 t)

40GP/40HQ overweight surcharge: US $350/40GP or 40HQ (27.21 t ≤ gross weight ≤ 29.48 t)

Shipowner: ZIM/HMM - 20GP weight limit and overweight surcharge

ZIM 20GP railway/highway weight limit and overweight surcharge:

US $200/20GP (18.1 t ≤ gross weight ≤ 22 t)

US $350/20GP (22.1 t ≤ gross weight ≤ 27 t)

HMM 20GP weight limit at the US East base ports and overweight charge:

US $200/20GP (19.1 t ≤ gross weight ≤ container door weight limit)

Tri-axle Weighing for Highway Transport in the United States

When we provide customers with trucking services to the door, logistics center or warehouse, we must consider the highway weight limit, which varies in each state in the United States. We need to know details including container quantity, cargo gross weight, destination port, delivery address, zip code, used shipowner to inquire highway weight limit.

Here we introduce the Tri-axle weighing method of American trucks and containers, as below image. Any axle weight which exceeds the maximum weight, even if the total weight of the container and cargo is not over, should be considered overweight. Then the container will be forced to open and make it balanced on the truck before being allowed on the road. All additional expenses incurred should be borne by the customer.

Therefore, it is vital to remind customers to balance the container before packing, ensuring that there are no overweight items, such as large furniture and floors which are likely to be packaged towards the front end or the same side. In addition, some special goods require special packaging and fixation to avoid damage or sliding during transportation. More information please contact us at info@yqn.com.

Source: Truck News

Cargo Load Restrictions for The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is an important channel connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific, as well as a vital trade route for American traders shipping to the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast ports. The United States is the largest user of the Panama Canal, with total merchandise export and import containers accounting for 73% of the canal's traffic. About 40% of containers in the United States pass through the canal each year, with goods valued at up to $270 billion. However, due to the seasonal rainfall changes, the water level of the canal will change to form the dry season and the flood season.

During the dry season, the capacity of the canal is limited and the ships will slow down. At that time, the Panama Canal Authority will adjust the draft limit for large ships. Shipowners will also impose the Panama Canal Surcharge PCC (PANAMA CANAL CHARGE) for goods transported from East Asia to North America and adjust the weight limit. For example, in 2023, the Panama Canal suffered from unprecedented drought since 1950, resulting in a significant decline in canal capacity. Vessel congestion had caused delays of 17 to 20 days, or longer, for shipment from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and cargo volume on some ships has decreased by 40%. The Shipowner COSCO adjusted weight limit to 6-10 tons/TEU (containing container weight). More information please contact us at info@yqn.com.

We need to know the time of dry season and remind customers of the weight limit and surcharge adjustment of the shipowner, and reasonably arrange the cargo transportation plan according to the urgency of the shipment. Goods from Asia to the United States can choose alternative routes through the Suez Canal or use ports in Southern California to load containers onto trains or trucks heading to the Midwest and East Coast.

To sum up, the weight limit standard of the US-Canada line has an important impact on our daily shipment. As a freight forwarder, we need to understand and comply with the weight limit regulations, develop a reasonable cargo loading plan and transportation plan, to meet the requirements of customers and ensure the safe transportation of goods. At the same time, communication with customers is also very important, we need to timely remind customers of the weight limit problem and provide the corresponding solutions. Only in this way, can we highlight our professionalism in the fierce market competition for the United States and Canada line.

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YQN  Operation Team

info@yqn.com