# What do you call the cargo container on a truck? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 11, 2010, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920 "2010-08-11T07:31:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dumbguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dumbguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dumbguy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/1 "2010-08-11T07:31:23Z")
The Wikipedia entry on parts of a [truck](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truck#Anatomy_of_a_truck) lists only cab, engine, drivetrain, and frame. How do people refer the container section? Are there differnt terms depending on size, whether it’s detachable, etc? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/2 "2010-08-11T08:08:36Z")
[Semi-trailer.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-trailer) No front axle, supported by the tractor.(Cab, engine) A full trailer is typically used for the second trailer of a double. It is detachable, no names for sizes but for what special cargo it might be designed for. There’s the ordinary box type, flatbed, refrigerated, tank, etc. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/3 "2010-08-11T08:12:09Z")
area for placing cargo or equipment if it is detachable it is trailers or semi-trailers of various types if attached it is the backend, cargo area, cargo box, bed, tank or area for placing cargo or equipment ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/4 "2010-08-11T15:29:38Z")
The name depends on the design, size, and function. There are too many to list, because specialized industries that have a small number of a certain type will have a name not generally known outside that industry. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/5 "2010-08-11T17:40:30Z")
If you’re talking about the kind that comes off and gets loaded on a ship, it’s called – get this – the container. Or the box. They come in many sizes and types. The most common are 20-foot standard (also called DV for Dry Van), 40’ DV, 40’ HC (high cube). There are also 45’ HCs. Then you have your reefers (refrigerated), your open tops (OTs) and other exotic types. ---
**Author:** ![Cinebar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Cinebar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinebar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/6 "2010-08-11T17:52:03Z")
Piggy backs. I think. My first ex husband was a truck driver. And I think that’s what he called them but it was a long time ago (the marriage). ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/7 "2010-08-11T18:25:25Z")
double post :smack: ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/8 "2010-08-11T18:27:32Z")
> [@Cinebar](#): > > Piggy backs. > > I think. A piggyback is a railroad flatcar carrying a traditional, wheeled semi trailer, FWIW. Not to be confused with the various types of container carriers. ---
**Author:** ![Cinebar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Cinebar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinebar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/9 "2010-08-11T18:31:40Z")
> [@](#): > > A piggyback is a railroad flatcar carrying a traditional, wheeled semi trailer, FWIW. Not to be confused with the various types of container carriers. Thanks. 🙂 Like I said, it was a long time ago. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/10 "2010-08-11T19:51:34Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > If you’re talking about the kind that comes off and gets loaded on a ship, it’s called – get this – the container. Or the box. They come in many sizes and types. The most common are 20-foot standard (also called DV for Dry Van), 40’ DV, 40’ HC (high cube). There are also 45’ HCs. Then you have your reefers (refrigerated), your open tops (OTs) and other exotic types. In general, standard intermodal or multimode shipping container are referred to as “CONEX” (container express) containers. There is a set of ISO standards which govern the size, construction, and interfaces of CONEX containers. There are a few other types of shipping containers, like RACE or the weird collection of East Bloc intermodal container forms that disappeared overnight after the Soviet Union collapsed. Non-removable containers on trailers are referred to internally by manufactures by different nomenclature; container, enclosure, wagon, et cetera, and the trailer itself is called a trailer, strongback, bogie, pull rig, and probably other things. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/11 "2010-08-11T20:41:51Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > > [@MLS](#): > > > > If you’re talking about the kind that comes off and gets loaded on a ship, it’s called – get this – the container. Or the box. They come in many sizes and types. The most common are 20-foot standard (also called DV for Dry Van), 40’ DV, 40’ HC (high cube). There are also 45’ HCs. Then you have your reefers (refrigerated), your open tops (OTs) and other exotic types. > > In general, standard intermodal or multimode shipping container are referred to as “CONEX” (container express) containers… Maybe I’m mis-interpreting your post, but **MLS** is correct, people generally just call them “containers”. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/12 "2010-08-11T21:02:04Z")
On the back of a straight truck (not a tractor trailor) it’s called a van body or box. Manufactures order the truck chassis and mount their own body. Usually has some custom characteristics like a high cube, soft sided body (canvas), utility body with tool boxes, refrigerated body, or other speciality. ---
**Author:** ![joshmilton42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e99b99/32.png) [@joshmilton42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joshmilton42)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/13 "2013-05-09T03:49:33Z")
I agree to all of one. It’s a straight truck that can carry heavy loads and vehicles. They’re most used my trucking company and hauling company for their [heavy hauling jobs](http://heavyhaulingjobs.blogspot.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/14 "2013-05-09T04:32:46Z")
Reported. ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/15 "2013-05-09T17:05:48Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Maybe I’m mis-interpreting your post, but **MLS** is correct, people generally just call them “containers”. I’ve always heard them called “sea-cans”. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-cargo-container-on-a-truck/549920/16 "2013-05-09T17:41:04Z")
But what if they are full of zombies?