3 Tips for Transporting Shipping Containers

Written by Susan Nalevac | May 05, 2023

While shipping containers have made cargo transportation much easier, a lot goes into moving a container from one location to another. Below, we offer some simple tips for transporting shipping containers that ensure your container arrives at its destination with the cargo intact.

Here's our top three must-know tips for transporting shipping containers:

1. Inspect Closely
2. Lashing the Container
3. Use Packing Best Practices

The first thing you should do is closely examine the container. Look for a few things in your inspection, especially signs of significant damage or degradation, like major dents in the doors or holes in the walls.

You should also examine all of the interior surfaces to ensure that the container is free of rust, pests, or termites. Before shipping, double-check the locking mechanisms to ensure that the doors are secure.

2. Lashing the Container

Lashing is securing the container firmly to the vehicle. A secure lashing ensures that the container won’t move or wobble during transport, or even worse, fall off the truck.

A shaky and wobbly container could cause goods inside to fall or crash into each other, damaging the cargo. Everyone transporting shipping containers should have a lashing jack along with durable and reliable ropes and chains to keep the container securely fastened to the vehicle.

3. Use Packing Best Practices

How the container is packed is also integral to the safety of the items and the container itself. You must take into account the weight and fragility of the cargo in the container when packing to avoid items from damaging one another during transit.

And if you don’t securely pack and fasten heavy equipment and boxes, the container itself can become less secure. Always load heavier items toward the front of the container and on the floor, when possible, with lighter items on top. If there are any gaps in the cargo, fill them with packing materials like cardboard, bubble wrap, or other padding.

Conclusion

We hope that our tips for transporting shipping containers help you safely transport units. If you’re interested in getting a new or used shipping or storage container, Container Management Inc. has reliable and affordable cargo containers in Columbus, OH and other locations nationwide.

Contact our staff today to learn more about Container Management, Inc. and our cargo containers.