A "ton" is a unit of weight commonly used in the United States and other countries. There are two main types: the short ton, which is equal to 2,000 pounds, and the long ton, used mainly in the United Kingdom, which is equal to 2,240 pounds. The metric ton, or tonne, is another variant, equivalent to 1,000 kilograms. Tons are often used to measure heavy objects, such as vehicles, construction materials, and shipping cargo. For example, a pickup truck might weigh around 1.5 tons, while a shipping container can weigh several tons when fully loaded.