CONEX

Conex, short for container express, is a term historically used by the United States military to denote standardized shipping containers employed to move equipment and supplies by air, sea, or land. These containers were designed for intermodal transport and typically came in common military sizes such as 20-foot and 40-foot variants. Built primarily from steel, CONEX containers feature secure locking doors, forklift pockets for handling, and corner fittings compatible with standard ISO intermodal equipment. The nomenclature and concept originated in the mid-20th century and became widely used during World War II and the subsequent Cold War era to organize and dispatch materiel.

In design and use, CONEX containers were intended to be durable, stackable, and suitable for long storage as well as rapid deployment. They could be air- or sea-lifted and were often assigned to supply depots, forward operating bases, or transport missions across theaters of operation. Over time, many CONEX units were standardized to align with evolving intermodal and military logistics practices, and the term gradually blurred with civilian ISO containers used across the shipping industry.

Today, the word CONEX is frequently encountered in historical contexts, and the containers themselves have found continued utility outside the military. Decommissioned CONEX units are commonly repurposed as portable storage, temporary offices, or modular housing in both military and civilian environments. The concept underpins the broader intermodal shipping system and the use of standardized containers in logistics worldwide. See also: intermodal container, Milvan.