Freight glossaryContainersInternational ShippingCargo Handling
Out-of-Gauge Cargo (OOG)
Definition
Out-of-gauge (OOG) cargo is freight too long, wide or tall to fit inside a standard container, so it travels on a flat rack or in an open-top container with parts extending beyond the normal container outline.
What it means
Maersk describes OOG cargo as cargo whose dimensions "exceed the flat rack or open top container by length, width or height, but can still be unitised in containers." Pieces that vastly exceed a standard container's size or weight are handled as non-unitised break bulk instead.[1]
The equipment is specialized. Flat racks are fitted with fixed or collapsible end walls; open tops have removable roof bows and tarpaulin covers and can be packed or unpacked from the top.[2] Carriers treat oversized or overweight cargo as special cargo that needs advance approval.
Example
A machine 2.9 m wide will not fit through a standard container door. It ships on a 40-ft flat rack, lashed down, with the carrier approving the booking as special cargo because it overhangs the rack's sides.
Related
Related terms
- Shipping ContainerA shipping container is a standardized steel box, most often 20 or 40 feet long and 8 feet wide, built to...Glossary
- Break BulkBreak bulk has two meanings in freight: cargo that is not in containers and is handled piece by piece, and...Glossary
- 40-ft ContainerA 40-ft container is a standard shipping container about 40 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8 feet 6 inches tall...Glossary
Sources
- Maersk, “Special cargo,” Carrier service page. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Maersk, “Equipment flyer (special equipment),” Carrier equipment specification. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Ocean Network Express, “Containers and specifications (special cargo),” Carrier page. Accessed September 30, 2026.
General operational information, not legal, customs or regulatory advice. Rules and rates change; confirm current requirements with the agency, carrier or contract that governs your shipment.