Delivery of Shipping Containers
Shipping containers are delivered by truck. The size of the container and the delivery location will determine what type of truck is used. The majority of shipping containers are delivered on tilt trailers. These trailers back into position and tilt the container down into the desired location without assistance.
The delivery process should take 15-20 minutes.
Ground Level Delivery
Tilt bed trailers are the most commonly used shipping container delivery method. The bed of the trailer will tilt upwards to allow the container to slide off and into the desired position. This means that the driver will arrive on site and should require no additional equipment to set the container on the ground provided all of the following criteria are met:
Long distance container delivery
When delivering shipping containers to long distance or remote locations, a flatbed or step deck trailer is used. The type of container will determine the trailer needed for delivery. A standard height container will require a flatbed trailer and a high cube container will require a step deck trailer.
Long distance High Cube Container delivery
High cube containers require a step deck trailer. Similar to the flatbed, however the trailer is lower to the ground with a fixed deck and also requires machinery to unload the container such as a crane, boom truck or forklift.
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Door Loading Direction
Standard shipping containers have doors on one end. The truck backs into position to tilt the container onto the ground. If the doors are loaded facing the CAB of the truck, they will be the last part of the container to be placed on the ground. If the doors are loaded facing the rear of the truck, they will be placed into position first.
Ground Preparation
As the combined weight of the trailer & container can exceed 50,000lbs, the ground must be firm and dry to prevent the trailer from sinking. The container must also be placed on level ground. The following surfaces are recommended: concrete, pavement, crushed gravel base, railroad ties, etc.
Site Access
The delivery truck must be able to easily enter the property and manoeuver once on site. This can be an issue for 40’ containers that arrive on 53’L trailers. These trailers are unable to make sharp 90-degree turns from two lane highways or narrow entrances. Obstructions on site such as parked cars, heavy traffic, low powerlines, etc. must also be considered.
Straight Line Clearance
Once the trailer has entered the property, the site must have sufficient width (15’W), height (18’H) and straight-line clearance to drop the container unassisted. For the delivery of a 20’ container, the truck will require a minimum of 65 ft of straight-line clearance. For the delivery of a 40’ container, the truck will require a minimum of 110 ft.
Container delivery with a
flatbed trailer
If your container delivery is outside of a major city or in a remote location, it is usually more cost effective to deliver a container with a flatbed trailer. Flatbed trailers are the preferred method of long-distance transport and more cost effective per km.
Container delivery with a
step deck trailer
High cube containers require a lower deck, known as a step deck or drop deck, to transport these containers and ensure they respect legal road height limitations.