40ft Hard Top Container Guide: Secure Top-Loading for Long Cargo

You have a 10-meter long robotic assembly arm. It needs to be loaded by a crane because it is too heavy for a forklift. It fits inside a container, but you are worried about shipping a million-dollar machine under a simple canvas tarp (Open Top).

The solution is the 40ft Hard Top Container.

Listed in the TraceContainer.com system as "40 Hard Top", this unit provides the length of a 40ft box, the top-loading ease of an Open Top, and the theft-protection of a solid steel roof.

What is a 40ft Hard Top?

The 40ft Hard Top is a specialized steel container with a removable steel lid.

• The Roof: The roof is rigid and heavy (approx. 450 kg). It is lifted off using a forklift or crane before loading begins.

• The Door Header: Like the Open Top, the rear door header swings out to allow tall items to slide in.

• The Difference: Once the cargo is loaded, the steel roof is locked back on, making the container completely water-tight and secure.

Why Choose a Hard Top over an Open Top?

While 40ft Open Tops are more common, the Hard Top offers specific advantages:

1. Security: A canvas tarp can be cut by thieves. A steel roof cannot. This is crucial for high-value machinery.

2. Stacking: Because the roof is rigid, shipping lines can stack other containers on top of a Hard Top. This often makes it easier to find a slot on a vessel compared to an Open Top (which usually must be placed on the top tier).

3. Durability: No risk of tarp tears or water leaks during long ocean voyages.

Best Uses: Long, Heavy & Precious

• Automotive Dies: Heavy steel molds used in car manufacturing.

• Glass & Marble: Long crates of fragile materials that need crane loading but absolute protection from moisture.

• High-Tech Machinery: Sensitive industrial equipment that cannot be exposed to the elements.

40ft Hard Top Dimensions

These dimensions allow for long cargo up to approx 11.9 meters.

(Note: The payload is often lower than a 20ft Hard Top because the 40ft box itself is much heavier).

Logistics Challenge: The Roof Storage

If your cargo is Out of Gauge (Over-Height), you can still use a Hard Top, but you cannot put the roof back on.

• The Problem: Where does the steel roof go?

• The Solution: In 40ft Hard Tops, if the cargo is narrow enough, the steel roof can sometimes be lashed to the inside side wall of the container. If not, the roof is left behind (which incurs cost). 

Therefore, Hard Tops are best used for "In Gauge" cargo.

Track Your High-Value Shipment

When you ship expensive machinery in a Hard Top, "hoping it arrives" isn't a strategy. Use TraceContainer.com to monitor the exact location of your critical assets.

Track My Hard Top Container