Vehicle Loading and Lashing Guide
What Really Matters in Vehicle Container Loading?
Vehicle exports are increasing, especially new energy vehicles, used cars, engineering vehicles, pickups and SUVs. When Chrislion Logistics receives a vehicle export inquiry, the first questions are often:
- How many vehicles can one 40HQ container hold?
- How should the vehicles be secured?
- Where are the lashing points?
- Do the tires need wooden wedges?
If these questions are answered only from experience, the loading plan may fail to meet requirements. The vehicle may move or be scratched, or the carrier may refuse the shipment. Many carriers have already published official materials on vehicle transport, vehicle lashing and special cargo loading. Chrislion Logistics has gathered four common carrier references. Freight forwarders, vehicle manufacturers and vehicle dealers involved in vehicle exports should save them.
Loading a vehicle into a container is not simply driving it in and tying a few straps. A complete vehicle container loading plan usually needs to consider:
1. Vehicle dimensions
- Vehicle length
- Vehicle width
- Vehicle height
- Wheelbase
- Mirror width
- Whether the mirrors can be folded
These parameters directly affect how many vehicles can fit in a 20GP or 40HQ container.
2. Vehicle weight
Weight affects not only the number of vehicles that can be loaded, but also:
- Container payload
- Vehicle position
- Lashing strength
- Floor capacity
- Center of gravity distribution
New energy vehicles may weigh noticeably more than fuel vehicles in the same class.
3. Vehicle securing method
A vehicle cannot be secured only with the parking gear or handbrake. In actual transport, the securing plan needs to use the vehicle's own securing points, container lashing rings, straps, wooden wedges and anti-slip materials.
Maersk's public vehicle transport guide, for example, recommends connecting the vehicle directly from the chassis hard points to the lower lashing rings on the side of the container. Tire wedges can be an additional measure, but they should not be treated as the main securing method.
Four Carrier Vehicle Transport Resources to Save
The four references below cover vehicle containers, lashing and special cargo loading.
- Maersk - Best Practice to Transport Vehicles. Vehicle container loading, lashing, wooden wedges and vehicle securing. Useful for ordinary vehicles, motorcycles and similar cargo.
- MSC - Automotive / Complete Cars. Vehicle container loading, professional lashing and vehicle inspection. Useful for new cars and complete vehicle exports.
- CMA CGM - Cargo Securing Manual. Container and cargo securing and safe operations. Useful for cargo securing and lashing principles.
- Hapag-Lloyd - Loading & Lashing Cargo. Loading, lashing, anti-slip measures and weight distribution. Useful for special cargo, vehicles and heavy cargo.
The four references are not the same in scope. Maersk and MSC are more directly focused on vehicle container transport. CMA CGM is more focused on general cargo and container securing. Hapag-Lloyd provides more complete information on special cargo, flat-rack loading and lashing.
Maersk: Start with Its Vehicle Container Loading Guide
Maersk's public Best Practice to Transport Vehicles is directly aimed at vehicle transport. The vehicles covered are not limited to ordinary passenger cars.
- Cars
- Motorbikes
- Boats
- Aircraft
- Scooters
- Golf carts
- Wheelchairs
- Lawnmowers
- Other vehicles
Maersk also reminds users that vehicle transport must be secured safely according to the relevant regulations.
One detail is especially important for freight forwarders: how should the vehicle lashing point be connected?
Maersk recommends this sequence:
- Vehicle chassis hard point
- Strap or securing device
- Lower lashing ring on the container
The strap should not be hung on the bumper, tires or other non-load-bearing points simply because it is easier.
Maersk also provides container vehicle transport services. In its public cases, one 20-foot container carries one vehicle, and one 40-foot container carries two vehicles. A professional team handles container loading, lashing and wooden wedge securing.
Maersk official vehicle transport guide: Best Practice to Transport Vehicles.
MSC: A Direct Reference for Vehicle Shipping
MSC's vehicle transport materials are worth close attention from freight forwarders handling vehicle exports.
MSC provides automotive shipping services and states clearly that vehicles must be secured with professional lashing techniques after they are loaded into a container.
MSC's public introduction also says that vehicles are inspected before container loading. The process then includes stuffing, lashing and loading. After arrival, the process includes unlashing and destuffing.
For China vehicle exports, MSC also has a dedicated China automotive logistics page. It states that, with professional lashing techniques and a vehicle rack system, one container can safely carry up to three vehicles. The actual number still depends on the model, dimensions, weight and loading plan.
This is especially useful for:
- China new energy vehicle exports
- Used car exports
- Cargo from vehicle dealers
MSC official vehicle transport reference: Complete Cars Automotive Transportation.
CMA CGM: Focus on the Cargo Securing Manual
CMA CGM's reference is slightly different from those of Maersk and MSC. Its public Cargo Securing Manual focuses more on the overall safe securing of vessel and container cargo.
The manual clearly requires:
- Container securing devices must be used according to the Cargo Securing Manual.
- Twistlocks must be locked correctly.
- Cargo inside the container must be properly packed and secured.
- Damaged containers must not be loaded onto the vessel.
- Safety requirements must be followed during lashing and unlashing.
For freight forwarders, its greatest value is not telling you how many straps a particular car should use. It helps establish a basic concept: vehicle container loading is not only a stuffing issue. It is a complete cargo securing issue.
In other words, the following factors need to be considered together:
- Vehicle dimensions
- Weight
- Center of gravity
- Container structure
- Securing points
- Lashing materials
- Lashing angles
CMA CGM official reference: Cargo Securing Manual.
Hapag-Lloyd: Practical Special Cargo Lashing Resources
Hapag-Lloyd's Special Cargo section includes a dedicated Loading & Lashing Cargo reference. Although it mainly covers flat-rack loading and lashing, many of its principles on lashing, center of gravity, anti-slip measures and load forces are also useful for vehicles, engineering vehicles and heavy equipment.
1. Weight distribution
Cargo cannot simply be placed inside and considered finished. The plan needs to consider:
- Length direction
- Width direction
- Center of gravity position
Hapag-Lloyd clearly states that cargo should be placed properly so that the center of gravity does not deviate too far from the center.
2. Anti-slip measures
Direct contact between metal cargo and a metal surface should be avoided. Depending on the actual conditions, the following can be used:
- Rubber
- Wood
- Anti-slip materials
These materials can increase friction.
3. Do not mix lashing materials without reason
Different lashing materials have different elasticity. Hapag-Lloyd's reference specifically advises against mixing different types of lashing materials in the same lashing direction, because their load-bearing and elongation characteristics differ.
Hapag-Lloyd official reference: Loading & Lashing Cargo.
The Five Most Common Mistakes in Vehicle Container Loading
Chrislion Logistics checks the following common mistakes before a vehicle is loaded.
Mistake 1: Only checking whether the vehicle fits
Vehicle container loading is not a game of Tetris. A vehicle fitting inside in theory does not mean it can be transported safely in practice. In particular, the plan must consider:
- Vehicle height
- Container internal height
- Loading and unloading space
- Lashing space
Mistake 2: Only tying the tires
Tire securing can be an additional measure, but it should not be treated as a complete vehicle securing plan. Maersk's public reference recommends connecting the vehicle from the chassis hard points to the container's lower lashing rings.
Mistake 3: Ignoring the center of gravity
This is especially important for:
- SUVs
- Off-road vehicles
- Electric vehicles
- Engineering vehicles
Vehicles with different centers of gravity may need different lashing plans. If the plan considers only weight and not the center of gravity, the vehicle may move sideways or have a risk of overturning.
Mistake 4: Using any place as a lashing point
The vehicle's own lashing points must be able to carry the relevant force. Do not attach straps to the following places for convenience:
- Bumpers
- Decorative parts
- Non-load-bearing structures
- Parts that are not suitable for securing
Mistake 5: Applying the same plan to different vehicle types
This is one of the most common problems in vehicle exports:
- A sedan is not the same as an SUV.
- An SUV is not the same as a pickup.
- A pickup is not the same as a new energy vehicle.
- A new energy vehicle is not the same as an engineering vehicle.
Even if all shipments use a 40HQ container, the answer cannot simply be fixed at two or three vehicles.
Eight Details to Ask Before Quoting Vehicle Shipping
When receiving a vehicle export inquiry, do not quote immediately. Chrislion Logistics collects the following information first:
- Vehicle model: determines the loading plan.
- Length: determines the longitudinal space.
- Width: determines the lateral space.
- Height: determines whether the vehicle can enter the container.
- Total vehicle weight: determines payload and stowage.
- Vehicle quantity: determines 20GP or 40HQ requirements.
- New or used: affects transport and declaration requirements.
- Whether it is a new energy vehicle: requires further confirmation of battery and dangerous goods attributes.
For new energy vehicles, the following details also need confirmation:
- Battery type
- Whether the battery is charged
- SOC status
- Dangerous goods attributes
- UN number
- The specific carrier's requirements
Maersk's public information also reminds users that if a vehicle has dangerous goods attributes, it needs to be declared according to IMDG and related requirements. Failure to declare according to the rules may create extra charges.
A Professional Vehicle Quote Is More Than Ocean Freight
When a customer asks about vehicle export pricing, the question may only be:
"China to Mexico, 40HQ, 3 cars. How much?"
A professional freight forwarder should continue to confirm:
- Vehicle model
- Dimensions
- Weight
- Quantity
- Loading method
- Lashing plan
- Carrier requirements
- Port requirements
- Dangerous goods attributes
- Final quote
This is why a vehicle export quote cannot simply use an ordinary general cargo 40HQ price.
Key Takeaways: Save These Four References
If you often handle the following shipments, Chrislion Logistics recommends saving the four references below:
- Vehicle exports
- New energy vehicles
- Used cars
- Engineering vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Special vehicles
- Maersk: vehicle transport, container loading, lashing and securing.
- MSC: automotive, vehicle container loading and professional lashing.
- CMA CGM: cargo securing and container cargo securing.
- Hapag-Lloyd: special cargo, loading and lashing.
One point needs special attention: a public carrier guide is not the final loading approval for every shipment. In actual operations, the latest requirements of the specific carrier, destination port, origin port, equipment type and shipment still apply.
This is especially important for high-value cargo such as vehicles. It is better to confirm one more time before container loading than to discover at the terminal that the vehicle can enter the container but the lashing plan is not accepted. At that point, the loss is not only a few hours.
For a freight forwarder, real professionalism is not knowing a price. It is knowing how a shipment should be moved safely and compliantly.