Robert Alan Estes

US Patent:

20010035410, Nov 1, 2001

Filed:

Feb 7, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/777879

Inventors:

Michael Taube - Millington TN, US
Robert Estes - Collierville TN, US
Jack Poole - Oakland TN, US
B. Bullion - Memphis TN, US
William Cummings - Memphis TN, US

Assignee:

Federal Express Corporation

International Classification:

B65D088/00

US Classification:

220/001500

Abstract:

A freight transportation container can accept standard-sized pallets and is suitable for transportation by land, sea, or air. The size and construction of the container permits the loading and removal of freight by a conventional fork lift truck through the container, and allows placement of the container in standard-sized trucks, rail cars, sea vessels, and aircraft. The freight container also is part of a system and method for transportation whereby the freight can be loaded, inventoried, locked, and sealed at a customer's premise, and remain under the custody of one entity throughout shipment of the freight to the consignee. The containers can be linked together to assist in placing several of the containers on the truck, trailer, or rail car, where they can remain linked for transportation. The containers can be brought to a customer's premise on the truck, trailer, or rail car. The containers are then loaded. Afterwards, the containers can be taken to holding areas, other trucks, ships, aircraft, or directly to the ultimate destination. Transactional information regarding the freight and destination is stored in a computer, allowing a central system to track the freight and generate appropriate business and customer documentation.