Shipping Container Delivery Service
We provide a professional shipping container delivery service to any home or business site in the US. Our network of transportation companies is one of the best in the industry. In addition, our transportation division personnel are experts at moving empty containers across the country.
Our partner trucking companies and drivers are licensed and insured so that your container will arrive in the same condition as when it left the depot. Moving a shipping container is an exacting process, and therefore safe transport is crucial.
Our delivery service includes either placing containers on the ground with a tilt-bed (roll off) truck, or a flat-bed truck. A flat- bed truck delivery requires customers to lift off containers at time of arrival.
Generally, flat-bed trucks requiring lift-off of containers by the customer are used for long distance deliveries in excess of 150 miles.
Setting up a Delivery
Important things to consider when scheduling a container delivery include:
Door Facing Position
The position of the container doors when we load the container delivery truck: Doors facing the cab of the truck will be tilted off last, and doors facing the rear of the truck will be tilted off first.
Availability
It is imperative that someone be available at the site at the time of delivery.
Your delivery driver will call you in advance to confirm everything is ready for delivery, so it’s important that you are available to be contacted on the delivery day.
Communication
We recommend to customers to clearly communicate delivery readiness and your hours of operation with our Operations Group when we set up delivery.
Our experienced Operations Group personnel can answer any questions you have.
Prepare your Site for Delivery
Here are some important steps to follow when preparing your site for a shipping container delivery:
Hard Surface
The combined weight of a double-axle semi-truck, with a 48-foot tilt-bed trailer, and a 40-foot High Cube container can be as much as 40,000 lbs.
Soft surfaces, such as mud or wet grass could pose a delivery problem. Therefore, it's important that your delivery surface is firm to account for weight distribution.
Level Surface
When 40-foot containers are not placed on a level surface they can flex. This does not hurt the container, but can affect the ease of opening the doors (which are hinged on the corner posts).
After the container has been delivered, if you experience doors that are too tight to open or close properly this generally means that the container needs to be leveled. In the majority of cases, this will free up the doors to close smoothly.
Space for Truck to Deliver
When the container is delivered, the tilt-bed trailer (roll-off) delivery truck is backed into position and tilted up, and the container then slides off as the truck and trailer pull forward.
Space for Truck to Maneuver
Please make sure the truck can access your delivery site. There must be enough space for the truck to make wide turns, get between gates or other obstructions, and safely set up for delivery.
Remember, trucks make wide turns which enable them to load and unload heavy equipment with ease.
Property Roadway Considerations
Road inclines and declines, rough roads, weather affected roads, tight turns:
Depending on your location, all of these conditions can impact a successful shipping container delivery.
Communicate any potential delivery hazards or complications to our Operations Team so that we can problem-solve together.
Provide photos of your desired delivery site, if applicable, and let us know if you’re expecting any weather conditions that could affect a delivery.
Free from Obstructions
We need 12 feet 6 inches of clearance from the ground to the top of the container; and a total of 16 feet of clearance to allow for the highest extension of the tilt-bed trailer.
It's important that there are no power lines, tree branches, or other obstructions at the site that do not meet the above height restrictions.
Weather Conditions and Rescheduling Your Delivery
If you need to reschedule your delivery due to weather conditions or any other factors, please inform us by 12 PM the day before your scheduled delivery.
Once the Driver Arrives
Driver Inspects the Delivery Location
When it comes to the shipping container delivery cost, it’s important to note that our delivery quote is based on the driver and container arriving and the container being tilted and placed on the ground within a one-hour window of time, thus completing the delivery. If a delivery requires the driver to extend the time frame beyond one hour, there may be an extra charge.
Once confirmed, the driver will meet you and inspect the delivery location prior to offloading the container.
For safety reasons, it is up to the delivery driver to decide whether the site is suitable for the delivery truck.
When the driver has determined the delivery site is safe and accessible, the driver will proceed to offload your container.
If the driver is unable to safely deliver the container, the customer has two options:
- Place the container at an alternate location, or
- The container gets returned to the depot, and the customer is responsible for a delivery and return charge.
You Inspect Your Shipping Container
Once your shipping container is delivered and in position, take the time to inspect it. Keep in mind that used shipping containers can be anywhere from 18-25 years old and can show signs of heavy use and wear.
Whether you buy a New One-Trip, Used Cargo Worthy, or Used Wind and Watertight container through Container Management, Inc., we guarantee that the containers comply with the following:
- Walls and roof will not have any holes or leaks (wind and watertight)
- Doors that open and close properly
- Floors will be intact and functional
Once you have verified that the container is in acceptable condition, confirm with the shipping container moving carrier driver that you’re satisfied.
However, if you are concerned with the container’s condition, please do not let the driver leave your site until you call us to discuss. Please provide us with photos of the containers by text or email.
We strive to offer a safe and cost-effective delivery service for our clients. By following this procedure, we can potentially avert you having to pay an additional delivery cost. Just like you, we want to avoid the driver having to come back for the container to return it to the depot.
IN ORDER FOR US TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON A CONTAINER, WE MUST RECEIVE YOUR NOTIFICATION, AT A VERY MINIMUM, WITHIN 24 HOURS OF DELIVERY.
Check out our informative FAQs on shipping container deliveries for more answers about our shipping container delivery service or read answers to Frequently Asked Questions here.
How do you move a shipping container?
We use a tilt-bed trailer to transport your container. This allows us to place your container on the ground.
If you’re more than 150 miles from one of our shipping container depots, we use a flat-bed or step-deck trailer. The latter option requires that you have the ability to lift the container off of the trailer at the time of its arrival.
Can I pick up the container if I have my own delivery truck?
Yes, we will lift the container at the Depot at no additional cost, and place it on your tilt-bed, flat-bed, or step-deck trailer. Your trailer must meet state highway requirements, and by law, you are required to completely secure the container to your trailer.
A pickup truck is not suitable for a container pick up or delivery.
How much does it cost to deliver a container?
Delivery costs depend on the distance to your site from where we store the containers. We suggest you contact us by phone - Monday through Friday – 8 am to 5pm Eastern Standard Time - 708 639-4992 or email us at jordan@containermgt.com
How much space is required for delivery?
A 20-foot shipping container requires about 65 feet of straight-line space for delivery and another 20 feet of turning space.
A 40-foot container requires roughly 130 feet of straight-line space and another 20 feet of turning space for the truck and trailer.
All units require a minimum width of 12 feet.
We need 12 feet 6 inches of clearance from the ground to the top of the container; and a total of 16 feet of clearance to allow for the highest extension of the tilt-bed trailer.
It is imperative that there are no power lines, tree branches, or other obstructions to the necessary height clearance.
How should I prepare a site for my shipping container delivery?
Be sure to meet the space requirements noted above. Furthermore, your delivery site should be level and firm. We have delivered on level grass, dirt, cement, and pavement. A level surface is especially necessary for 40-foot containers.
Can weather affect my shipping container delivery?
Yes, weather can affect delivery.
If you plan to place the container directly on the ground, as opposed to concrete, black-top, or gravel; rain or snow can make the soil less firm and difficult to support the massive weight of the truck and shipping container.
We ask that you keep an eye on the weather report and advise if we need to reschedule for a time when the ground will be dry enough to accept the weight of the truck, trailer, and container.
To reschedule your container delivery, we require a minimum of 24 hours of notice prior to the established delivery date.
If a container is being delivered to a firm surface; i.e., established road bed, asphalt, or cement; rain generally will not affect a delivery.
How long will delivery take after I order a container?
We strive to deliver containers as soon as possible from your order date. Delivery dates are advised at the time of your order and can take up to 4-5 days from your order date Monday through Friday.
Do I have to be present for the delivery?
An individual needs to be present at the delivery site with cell phone accessibility to the driver.
Can a ground level portable container be move loaded?
We do not move loaded containers with our tilt-bed trucks.
Can we place blocking devices under a container to raise it off the ground?
We do not recommend that containers be raised off the ground unless a specific ground condition requires it.
Please give our Operations Group a call to discuss how this can be accomplished when utilizing our tilt-bed trailers. At a few of our locations, we do offer delivery utilizing a side-unloader. In this case, a container can be placed on top of a fixed foundation.
Can I pay the driver with a check when he arrives?
Our drivers do not accept any payments. As a result, we do not offer a COD program.
Download our pdf complete guide on our “Shipping Container Delivery Service” including “How to prepare your site for a shipping container delivery”.
