Before delivery, plan the route from the depot, arrival on site, unloading, and the container's final position. An address and a size are not enough to choose the vehicle or to know who does what. The quote must specify the services included for the container and the address you have chosen.
Prepare this information before booking: an access plan, photos with locations marked on the plan, and a delivery sheet. The carrier can then check the maneuver, ask for anything missing, and set their conditions. The space needed to pass and the lifting capacities depend on the equipment planned. No single measurement works for every site. A model to compare: Container 20 ft Standard · Used · last trip · Beige.
Separate transport, unloading, and positioning
Transport brings the container to the agreed location. Unloading removes it from the vehicle. Positioning and levelling then set it in place on the planned supports. These tasks can be done by the same company or by several parties. Ask what the word delivery includes in your offer.
From the truck to your site
Plan access and placement together. These three views help you describe your site to the supplier.
Crane unloading
A truck-mounted crane can place the container from a suitable working area. The supplier confirms the vehicle, lifting reach and space needed for its stabilisers.
Access & manoeuvring
Provide gate width, bends, slopes and obstacles. The access route must suit the selected truck, all the way to its unloading area.
Ground & door clearance
Prepare a stable, level position. Leave space in front of the doors for their swing and for handling goods; the supplier confirms suitable supports.
4 details to share
- Gate and manoeuvring space
- Ground type and stability
- Overhead cables, branches and obstacles
- Final position and door clearance
Illustrative diagrams, not to scale. The supplier confirms vehicle dimensions, distances and unloading method for your site.
If you have your own carrier or handling equipment on site, mention it before choosing the service. That does not prove it is suitable for the container. Professionals must check the actual weight, modifications, lifting points, equipment, and skills needed. A fitted or loaded container is not moved like an empty container of the same length.
| Option | Organization needed | Point to resolve before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup at depot | Choice of carrier and release conditions | Vehicle compatibility, loading at depot, and appointment |
| Transport without unloading | Handling equipment suitable on arrival | Equipment and operator available, with a time agreed between the providers |
| Transport with unloading | Access and work area assessed by the provider | Final position, included work and responsibility for levelling on the supports |
Describe the entire vehicle route
Start from the arrival road and follow the route to the work area. Identify the entrance you can actually use, even if it's different from the postal address. Note narrow passages, turns, changes in slope, and places to maneuver or exit. A photo of the final yard won't show an obstacle before the gate.
At each difficult spot, take a wide shot, a close-up photo, and a measurement, then mark the location on the plan. Flag branches, cables, building overhangs, curbs, and areas that look fragile. A loaded vehicle takes up more room than the container alone. The carrier must check the route with the planned equipment and load.
- Entrance and approach route identified.
- Usable width at the narrowest points, gate open.
- Heights and overhead obstacles flagged.
- Turns, slope, and passing areas noted.
- Route surface and known structures described.
- Possible vehicle position and exit route drawn.
Keep room for the truck and unloading
Draw the container's final spot and the direction the doors face. Separately show the space available for the vehicle and its equipment. Stabilizers, handling gear, or a maneuver may need more room than the container itself. Have the actual distances and layout checked.
Describe the ground and flag known fill, manholes, pits, utilities, and wet areas. A paved surface or a light vehicle passing over it doesn't prove the ground will support the unloading equipment. The provider sets the method and working conditions. The site works and final supports for the container must also be prepared by competent professionals.
Put delivery information on a sheet
Write the country, town, drop-off address, and postal code, or the delivery zone where no postal code is used. Add a landmark to find the entrance, the on-site contact, and any time restrictions. Attach the product code (SKU) or container description, plus its weight and equipment if known. The carrier needs the details of the actual container being moved.
Note what equipment is already on site and what still needs to be brought in. If several providers are sharing the work, say who does each task and how they coordinate. Distinguish what is ready from what still needs to be done: supports, obstacles to move, ground to prepare, or technical checks. Ask for any missing information before booking.
| Item | Information to provide | What needs to be confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Container | Model, modifications, and actual specifications available | Container identified and suitable for the planned handling |
| Route | Plan, measurements, photos, and constraints | Possible route and maneuvers with the chosen vehicle |
| Ground and supports | Soil condition, work needed, and container placement | Suitable preparation by the relevant professionals |
| Operation | Parties involved, equipment, and responsibilities | Written description of the work and the conditions for carrying it out |
Make sure everything is ready before you set the date
A site visit or more information may be needed if the photos aren't enough. List what still needs to be sorted out: work area not prepared, access to check, no unloading equipment available, or no one assigned to do the installation. The date you want is only confirmed once the providers have accepted the conditions and checked their availability.
Go over every cost in the quote: container, transport, unloading, installation, any other services, and taxes. The listed container price doesn't tell you the transport cost or any extra charges. Also ask about the procedures and access conditions for the depot, the site, or the road used. They depend on the location and the job.
Organize the delivery day
Before they arrive, clear the agreed areas and make sure the on-site contact is available. Compare the site to the plan you sent. Report heavy rain, a trench, a new obstacle, or a change in where the container will go. The operator must be able to check the conditions again before starting.
During handling, follow the professional's instructions and stay out of the work area. Don't try to guide the load by hand, don't go under the container, and don't improvise any lifting. If the container can't reach its spot under the planned conditions, decide what to do next with the provider. Don't have it placed on supports whose strength hasn't been checked.
Check the container once it's in place
When the operator says you can approach, compare the delivered container to the order documents: number, visible condition, agreed repairs, and equipment. Check the door direction, clearances, and that the doors open without forcing. Take photos of the final position and any defects. If a door doesn't close properly after installation, have the cause checked: that symptom alone doesn't prove transport damage or a container defect.
Note any differences and report them to the supplier and providers according to the agreed terms. Keep the quote, pre-delivery communications, and delivery records together. They'll help you resolve problems and get the container ready for use. The conditions that apply to your situation still need to be checked; this sheet doesn't replace them.
Checklist before the truck leaves
- Exact entrance and drop-off address.
- On-site contact and known constraints.
- Container model and configuration identified.
- Photos and measurements of the route sent.
- Work area and final container position shown separately on the plan.
- Known ground conditions, utilities and structures have been flagged.
- Supports and preparation completed according to the plan.
- Transport, unloading and placement are divided among the parties involved.
- Blocking issues resolved and recent changes reported.
- Documents and photos ready to check the delivery.
Find the right type of container
Practical questions
Does delivery always include unloading?
No. Ask what the quote includes and what equipment you need to have on site. Check unloading, placing it in the chosen spot and levelling on the supports separately.
What width is needed for the truck?
It depends on the loaded vehicle and the maneuvers needed. Measure the passages and send the route to the carrier. The container width alone isn't enough to check that the truck will get through.
Can the container's spot be changed on the day?
Changing the spot can change distances, how much weight the ground can bear and the unloading method. Tell the provider and let them check the new maneuver before starting.
Technical references
- Bison — Efficient Handling of ISO Containers
Things to check before moving a container: size, weight, load distribution, access, ground, equipment and staff. Lifting distances and space needed depend on each delivery.