Site Preparation for Container Delivery

In order for the large, 40,000 lbs.+, delivery trucks to deliver and safely place a shipping container on your property, you will have to make sure that your drop-off site is properly prepared. Here are a few of the main things that your area needs in order for the container delivery to go smoothly:

• Firm Surface - the area where the container will be placed needs to be a firm, flat surface. Concrete, gravel, firm grass and dirt are all common and recommended places to keep a container. Keep in mind that the area around the container needs to be firm as well since the heavy delivery truck can get stuck in mud or other soft surfaces.
• Space for the Delivery Truck - delivery trucks are not only long (sometimes upwards of 60 feet), but they also take wide turns. It's important to have space for the truck to maneuver so that the container can be placed in the correct spot. You won't want to move the container after it's on the ground, since they also weigh a lot.
• More than 17' Height Clearance - the container sits on a flatbed truck and it tilts in order to bring the container to the ground. Make sure that there are no trees, electrical/power/phone lines overhead, or anything else above the area where the truck will be placing the container.
• Enough Space for the Container to Drop-Off the Truck - 20' containers will need about 60' in length for the truck to drop the container, and 40' long containers will need about 100' of straight runway to safely place the container at your desired location.

It's also important to keep your container in a flat location. If your container isn't level, you will often have issues opening and closing the doors. If you don't have a flat surface to put your container, you can also prop up one side with concrete blocks or wood blocks.