Once you have selected, purchased and possibly customized your shipping container, preparation for delivery is critical to retain your container’s optimal condition throughout the process. But how does someone prepare for the unique challenges that come with delivering of a multi-ton product?  To say the least, it can be overwhelming, which is exactly why SteelSTORED is available to assist clients in taking care of all the details associated with shipping container delivery.

At SteelSTORED, we believe that the most important delivery issues to address are availability of space and the condition of the site’s foundation: in other words, ensuring that there is clear, ample space to accommodate  the positioning of delivery trucks, and to determine that the delivery site is solid, smooth, level and able to support the weight of such a substantial product.  

Space:

As a general rule, the amount of space required for an easy delivery equals twice the length of the container plus 30 additional feet. While 10-ft containers pose less of a problem, 20-ft, 40-ft and 40-ft High Cube containers will need the following:

• 20-ft containers require 70 feet of straight clearance, along with a minimum width of 10 feet and an obstruction free height of 16 feet;
• 40-ft and 40-ft HC containers require 120 feet of straight clearance with a minimum width of 10 feet and an obstruction free height of 16 feet.

Clearance:

• Buyers are required to ensure that hanging tree branches, underground and overhead electrical or phone cables, property protrusions, awkward landscaping or any other kinds of environmental obstacles have been addressed to support a clean, clear and level passageway for trucks performing container delivery;
• Passageways should also be straight versus curved, horseshoed or “S”-shaped in order to allow the truck to retain its ability to navigate the delivery site without difficulty.
• Should a buyer not have a clear, level and accommodating site on their own property and instead choose to have the container delivered on a public location (i.e. highway, parking lot, etc.), they must agree to assume all legal responsibilities and acquire the necessary permits or approvals from appropriate municipal agencies.

Site Foundation

• It is impossible for truck carrying multi-ton containers to successfully drive through soft, muddy or uneven surfaces. Such surfaces pose the risk of the delivery truck sinking or sliding, leading to additional costs for removal as well as a delivery reschedule. To avoid such complications, it is essential that delivery site foundations feature surfaces that are smooth, solid, level and strong to accommodate the process and ensure the integrity of the container’s condition.
• The most ideal surfaces for delivery are asphalt, concrete, gravel and solid, level grassy fields. In addition, Class II Road Base surfaces as well as railroad ties and treated wood are acceptable options.
• For stationary containers, it is especially important that the delivery site be level, firm and obstruction-free. If these requirements aren’t met, the chance of premature damage to the container’s shape, sturdiness and overall condition is heightened.