TEU
TEU stands for Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, which is the standard way to measure cargo space on container ships and in ports. Think of it as measuring rooms in a house - but for shipping containers. One TEU equals one standard 20-foot shipping container. When you see this term in resumes or job descriptions, it usually refers to someone's experience handling cargo volumes. For example, if someone managed "10,000 TEUs monthly," it means they oversaw operations involving 10,000 container units. This measurement is universal in shipping, like using square feet in real estate.
Examples in Resumes
Managed port operations handling over 50,000 TEU monthly throughput
Increased terminal efficiency resulting in 25% more TEU capacity
Coordinated logistics for fleet carrying 100,000 TEUs annually
Optimized container yard layout to accommodate additional 1,000 TEU storage
Typical job title: "Port Operations Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Port Operations Managers
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you optimize a terminal's TEU capacity without physical expansion?
Expected Answer: Look for answers about improving container stacking methods, implementing better yard management systems, optimizing container dwell times, and using technology for better space utilization.
Q: Describe a situation where you had to handle an unexpected surge in TEU volume.
Expected Answer: Candidate should discuss real experience managing high-volume situations, including staff coordination, equipment allocation, and communication with shipping lines.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What systems do you use to track TEU movements in a terminal?
Expected Answer: Should mention experience with terminal operating systems, tracking methods, and basic reporting procedures for container movements.
Q: How do you calculate TEU capacity for yard planning?
Expected Answer: Should explain basic capacity calculations, considering ground slots, stacking height, and operational constraints.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is a TEU and how does it differ from an FEU?
Expected Answer: Should explain that TEU is a 20-foot container unit and FEU (Forty-foot Equivalent Unit) is twice that size, being a 40-foot container.
Q: How do you document TEU movements in daily operations?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of basic container tracking, documentation requirements, and record-keeping practices.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of container operations
- Familiarity with TEU calculations
- Basic terminal documentation
- Understanding of yard operations
Mid (2-5 years)
- Terminal capacity planning
- Container movement coordination
- Team supervision
- Performance reporting
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic terminal planning
- Large-scale operations management
- Resource optimization
- Stakeholder management
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic container terminology
- Inability to explain capacity calculations
- Lack of experience with terminal operations
- Poor understanding of shipping documentation
Related Terms
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