Home / Site Prep & Delivery
Before your container arrives
Site prep &
delivery.
Delivery day takes minutes when the spot is ready. Here is exactly what we check, what you need to prepare, and how the tilt-bed drop works.
Step one
We check access first
Before anything gets scheduled, we have a short conversation about where the container is going. We look at the property on Google Maps ahead of time to spot the things that cause trouble on delivery day: tight turns, narrow gates, soft or sloped ground, low tree limbs, and overhead lines. If something looks questionable, we tell you before the truck leaves the yard, not after.
60 / 100
Feet of straight run
About 60 feet of clear, straight approach for a 20ft and 100 feet for a 40ft, so the truck can back in and tilt.
12 ft
Width
Clear width along the path, gates included, for the truck and its mirrors.
14 ft
Overhead
Clearance for the tilt-bed as it raises, so limbs and lines stay out of the way.
These are rules of thumb. Every property is a little different, and our drivers have placed containers in plenty of spots that looked impossible on paper. Tell us what you are working with and we will give you a straight answer.
Step two
Level ground is your job, and it matters most
A shipping container is a steel box that is strong at its corners. When it sits on a level base, the doors swing open and closed with one hand for decades. When it sits on ground that slopes or settles, the frame racks and the doors bind. That is the single most common complaint we hear about containers, and it is almost always the base, not the box.
Preparing a level pad is the buyer’s responsibility. We do not grade or level sites, but we are glad to advise on what works. Most customers use one of these:
Gravel or decomposed granite
The most common base. A compacted pad of 3/4-inch gravel or DG, a few inches deep and a little larger than the container footprint, drains well and is easy to level.
Footings or piers
Concrete blocks, pier pads, or railroad ties under the four corners (and mid-points on a 40ft) raise the box off the ground and make fine leveling easy.
Concrete slab
The premium option if the container is permanent or you want a clean floor around it. Pour it level and slightly larger than the container.
Railroad ties
A practical, inexpensive choice on rural ground. Set ties on compacted soil, check them with a level, and the container rests on top.
Drainage tip
Whatever base you choose, keep the container a few inches off the soil and let water run away from it. A dry base is a level base, year after year.
Step three
Delivery day
Your container arrives on a tilt-bed truck. The driver backs into position, tilts the bed, and the container slides off onto your pad as the truck pulls forward. The container ends up where the truck can reach, so a clear approach matters more than anything else. Once it is set, the driver checks that the doors open and close cleanly before leaving.
Delivery is quoted with your container and depends on your address and the size of the box. Send us the delivery location and we will price the container and the delivery together, with no surprises.
Delivery-day checklist
- A level, compacted base a little larger than the container footprint
- Gates open and vehicles moved out of the approach path
- Low limbs trimmed and overhead lines identified
- Soft or muddy ground allowed to dry (or a gravel path laid down)
- Someone on site, or a clear marking of exactly where the doors should face
- Your phone on, in case the driver has a question on the way
Common questions
Do you level the ground for me?
No. Ground prep is the buyer’s job, and it is the part that matters most. A level, well-drained base keeps the doors swinging freely for the life of the container. We are happy to talk through options before delivery.
How do you know if my property is accessible?
We talk it through with you on the phone and look at the property on Google Maps ahead of time, so any tight turns, gates, soft ground, or overhead lines are handled before the truck rolls.
How much room does the delivery truck need?
As a rule of thumb, plan on a straight, clear run of about 60 feet for a 20ft container and 100 feet for a 40ft, about 12 feet wide, with 14 feet of overhead clearance. We confirm the specifics for your site before we schedule.
Can the container sit directly on dirt?
It can, but we do not recommend it. Bare soil shifts with moisture and frost, which twists the frame and binds the doors. Gravel, decomposed granite, footings, or a slab keep it level and let water drain.
What does delivery cost?
Delivery is quoted with your container and depends on the address and the size of the box. Send us your delivery location and we will quote it together.
Can you place it in a tight spot?
Usually, yes. Our drivers have set containers in tight driveways and side yards for years. Tell us about the spot up front and we will tell you honestly what will work.
Ready to schedule?
Tell us your delivery address and the size you need. We check access, confirm the price, and set a delivery date.
Mon–Fri 8:00–4:30 · Reno, NV
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