European "Swap Body" and "Lift Tank" Containers
"Swap body" containers are frequently used for land transport in Europe along with European domestic containers. They are a mix between a highway trailer and a sea container. Swap bodies do not travel overseas; they are only used for regional road/rail transport within Europe. Swap bodies are quasi-containers; they typically have ISO corner castings on the bottom, but they are optional on the top. As a result, some swap bodies can be stacked but most cannot. The sizes typically follow the same dimensions as European domestic containers: lengths of 7.15m, 7.45m, 7.82m, and 13.6m are used. Most are 2.5m or 2.55m wide to accomodate European pallet widths. Open-sides are common with swap bodies and these containers are typically called "curtain-sides."
"Lift tanks" are similar to swap bodies. They do not have top ISO corner castings.
Since most swap bodies do not have top lifting castings, they are lifted from the sides using castings along the bottom as shown here. (Photo courtesy of Gerald Fresse)
AEAU 0001018, Curtain-side swap body container, ISO type 5PG4. Owned by AEA Technology, leased to the Malcolm Group (Photo by Arran Aird)
Alberti-Santi swap body. Here is another. (Photos by Coen Fourdraine)
Alma Cargo swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Ambrogio swap body. Here is another example. (Photos by Gerald Fresse)
Ansorge 2175 curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Arcese-Kech swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Autotrasporti CT0016, 45' swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
B+R Logistik swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
B.Dorchies refrigerated swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
BAS 1068 swap body. Here are two similar containers: Photo 1, Photo 2. (Photos by Coen Fourdraine)
BAS 7982. 45' swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Benalu open-top swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Berger swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Here is another Berger swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Bernard 006 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
BIDU 4901114. Lift tank owned by Bertschi. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
BIDU 4908037. Lift tank owned by Bertschi. (Photo by Han Groen)
BIDU 4909141. Lift tank owned by Bertschi. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
BIDU 4918502. Lift tank owned by Bertschi. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Bourgey Montreuil 0015 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Bourgey Montreuil 0094 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
BPS Spedition curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Buchaca swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
BUKU 4903559. Lift tank (actually a bulk tank) owned by Bertschi. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Cargo Domino FD1060 swap body, probably refrigerated. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Castorama 9041. 45' swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Castorama 9049. 45' swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Another Castorama swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
CDH 825. 20'+ lift tank owned by CDH. (Photo by Cor Rood)
CNC Transports swap body. Here is another example. Here's one more - CNC 5793. (Photos by Gerald Fresse)
COOP WAB31 refrigerated swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
COTRANS W7145 swap body. (Photo by Franck Despesse)
CRKU 2070058. Richter lift tank. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Dani Trasporti swap body. Here is another example. One more example. (Photos by Gerald Fresse)
Dani Trasporti 106, Dani Trasporti 423. (Photos by Coen Fourdraine)
Danzas "curtain-side" container, probably 13.60m long. (Photo by Michael McGowen)
DAPMR 1020. DAP Intermodal curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Darfeuille 085 swap body. (Photo by Gerard Berteau)
DBXU 7806275. DB Intermodal swap-body shown being lifted by a crane. (Photo by Cor Rood)
DBXU 7810927. DB swap-bodies on a railcar. (Photo by Cor Rood)
De Girolami swap body. (Photo by Gerard Berteau)
Demenageurs Bretons CB103 swap body. Although it looks similar to a sea container, note there are no top lift castings. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Corrugated-side swap body for Demenageurs Bretons. (Photo by Gerard Berteau)
NEW! DEMU 0001028. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
DHL BU162 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
DHRU 9030170. 30'(?) bulk container (lift tank?) - note there are no top lift points. (Photo by Ben de Vink)
Dreier DS177 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
DS 444. Dreier swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Ducournau swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
ECOU 4182660. Unusual bulk container without top lift points, probably about 30' long. Owned by Ecologistic. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Emons 0251, Emons 0281 swap bodies. (Photos by Coen Fourdraine)
Emons 6253. Curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Emons 6307. Curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Euromodale 248 curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Euromodale 339 ribbed-side swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
European Freight Services open-sided container, probably 13.60m long. (Photo by Michael McGowen)
Evola 201. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
FERCAM curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
More FERCAM swap bodies: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3. (Photos by Coen Fourdraine)
FERCAM CM1071 curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
FERCAM CM1478 curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
FERCAM CM1543. Fercam curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
FERCAM CM1642 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
FERCAM CM1660 curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
G.Bernardini 5034 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Gafner Transporte swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
GBMU 0871895. 45' swap body operated by Geodis. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
GCAU 3413850. Lift tank. (Photo by Ben de Vink)
GE 453108 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
GE-SeaCo curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Geodis 045 ribbed-side swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Geodis 76773 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Geodis 76777 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Ghestem 02 open-top swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Gonnet 05 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
GRT swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
GRT 428 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Guisnel swap body. (Photo by Gerard Berteau)
Hemisphere-Sud swap body. (Photo by Gerard Berteau)
HT 3749 swap body. Owned by Hangartner. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
IMHOF swap body. Here is another example. (Photos by Coen Fourdraine)
J.H. Mesguen 506 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
KEC 2562. Appears to be 24-feet long and 2.55m wide. (Photo by Franck Despesse)
Keitel 1318 open-top swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Labouriaux 504 bulktainer swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
LaFleche 7041 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
LaFleche 7044. 45' swap body; looks like a LEG1 but notice there are no top corner lift castings. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Lays swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
LKW Walter W4139 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
LKW Walter W4155 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Loblein 81225 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Loblein 81508 swap body. (Photo by Nikolaus Mohr)
Lomak 9102 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Lomak 9181 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Lustucru swap body. Here is another example. (Photos by Gerald Fresse)
Mainsped 169 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Marc Veray refrigerated swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Menath HM46 open-top swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Menath HM151 open-top swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Menath HM948 open-top swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Michel Verscheure Transport B45-022 45' swap-body. It looks very similar to a standard sea container, but notice there are no top lift castings. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Mora swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Mory Bekaert swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Multisped WK28 dry swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Multisped WP12 curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Nature & Decouvertes 1534 swap body. Note the "legs" it is resting on. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Norbert Dentressangle refrigerated swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Norfolk Line swap body. Here is another example. (Photos by Coen Fourdraine)
Norfolk Line 1645 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Nothegger swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Pfister 501 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Pfister 511 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Phillipe Rey refrigerated swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Planzer P597 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Rouch 1837 curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
SABU 3264077. Lift tank owned by Star Benelux. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
SABU 3264375. Lift tank owned by Star Benelux. (Photo by Ben de Vink)
SAE swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
SAE CM047 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
SCFU 0050106. Old swap body owned by SNCF. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Setti Trasporti 7014 ribbed-side swap body (looking very similar to an ISO sea container). (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Socafna refrigerated swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Spedirail MAG45026 45' swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Spedirail 1005 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Spedirail 45037 45' swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Stat 8209 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Streck Transport FR783010 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Swap body with canvas sides. Lettered for "Le Transport Routier Autrement." (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
TAB 572 ribbed-side swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
TAB 640 ribbed-side swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
TAB 654 ribbed-side swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
TAB 4044 ribbed-side swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
TAB 4053 and ND 1532 swap bodies on board a railcar. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
NEW! TESU 4501841, TESU 4502200 45' swap bodies. (Photos by Darryl Bamsey)
Tiberg 309 curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Tipes 6304 ribbed-side swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Tipes 7227 open-top/open-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Tipes 7520 open-top/open-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
TL09 swap body. Decorated with logos for "Les Demenageurs Bretons." (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Transalliance refrigerated swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Transco swap bodies: Photo 1, Photo 2. (Photos by Coen Fourdraine)
Transports Bruno Robert swap body. (Photo by Gerard Berteau)
Transverba swap bodies: Photo 1, Photo 2. (Photos by Coen Fourdraine)
Trenitalia 292 curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
TRF 14 refrigerated swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
TRF 15 refrigerated swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
T.S.E France corrugated side swap body. (Photo by Gerard Berteau)
TTS 2520 and TTS 2613. (Photos by Coen Fourdraine)
TWSU 7700020 lift tank. Type code 2472 - which may be an error since this is clearly longer than 20' (probably 7.15m). 2.5m wide, 2.6m tall. Ex-Hoyer. (Photo by Ben de Vink)
UESU 6100047. Example of European "swap body" containers. They are 7.45m long. These have roller doors on the ends. (Photo by Carsten Seier)
Here are some United Container Systems 7.15m "curtain-side" containers: UXXU______, UXXU 6000346, UXXU 6000515. These are 2.55m wide to carry European pallets. Photos courtesy of Carsten Seier.
More UXXU swap bodies from Europe. These are 7.45m long, 2.55m wide, and between 2.60 and 3.15m tall. Note the roll-up doors. Photos: UXXU 6217835, UXXU 6216799. (Photos by Carsten Seier)
VAEU 4417133. 45' ribbed-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
45' curtain-side swap bodies owned by Har Vaessen: VAEU 5517060, VAEU 5517034. This one (VAEU 5517203) is lettered for Jan de Rijk. (Photos by Coen Fourdraine)
Van Dijk 45' curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Verscheure curtain-side swap body. Here is another example. (Photos by Coen Fourdraine)
VOS W3202 curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
WETRON 589 curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
WKU 127 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
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