Container delivery is straightforward when the site is ready and expensive when it is not. A tilt-bed truck arriving at a driveway it cannot use is the single most common avoidable cost in this business. This guide covers how containers are actually delivered, exactly what clearance the truck needs, how to prepare the ground, and what happens on the day — so the unit lands where you want it, first time.
Our delivery is a flat $500 to any address in the 50 states, quoted on the listing, and scheduled 5–10 business days after payment clears. What follows is what that fee buys and what it needs from you.
How Containers Are Delivered
Tilt-bed (roll-off) truck — the standard method
The great majority of containers arrive on a tilt-bed truck. The bed hydraulically tilts, the container's rear corners touch the ground, and the driver creeps the truck forward while a winch pays the box off. The container slides backwards off the bed and settles onto your prepared pad.
The critical consequence: the truck moves forward the full length of the container while unloading. It does not lift or place from a stationary position. That is why access requirements are driven by straight-line length, not by the footprint of the container itself.
Flatbed with crane or forklift
Where the site cannot take a tilt-bed — a tight urban lot, placement over a fence or wall, a stacked arrangement, or an unusually soft or steep site — the container arrives on a flatbed and is lifted into position by crane or heavy forklift. That equipment is arranged separately and priced separately; it is not covered by the flat delivery fee. Tell us at the point of order if you think you need it.
Access Requirements: Exact Clearances
Measure these before you order, not after. A tape measure now is cheaper than a second delivery later.
| Clearance | 10ft | 20ft | 40ft | 45ft | 53ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-line run to allow | ~50 ft | ~60 ft | ~80 ft | ~85 ft | ~95 ft |
| Clear width of path | ~12 ft | ~12 ft | ~12 ft | ~12 ft | ~12 ft |
| Overhead clearance | ~15 ft | ~15 ft | ~15 ft | ~15 ft | ~15 ft |
| Door swing at the door end | ~8 ft | ~8 ft | ~8 ft | ~8 ft | ~8 ft |
| Pad size (minimum) | 12' × 10' | 22' × 10' | 42' × 10' | 47' × 10' | 55' × 10' |
The rule of thumb behind the first row: container length plus roughly 40 feet of straight clearance. That 40 feet is the truck's forward travel plus room to line up.
The overhead obstacles people miss
- Utility and service drops crossing a driveway.
- Tree limbs — a bare branch in February is a full canopy in July.
- Carport roofs, gateway arches, low eaves and signage.
- Basketball hoops, security lights and gutters at the pinch point.
Ground conditions
A loaded delivery truck is far heavier than the container it is carrying. Ground that will happily hold a static container can still bog a rig.
| Surface | Tilt-bed delivery | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete or asphalt | Ideal | Watch for cracking under axle loads on thin residential slabs |
| Compacted gravel | Ideal | The best all-round pad surface |
| Compacted dirt, dry | Usually fine | Depends on recent weather |
| Grass or turf | Risky | Expect ruts; wet turf can stop a truck outright |
| Wet clay, mud, sand | Not viable | Reschedule or prepare a hardcore route |
| Slope over a few degrees | Problematic | Containers slide unpredictably on a grade |
| Frozen ground | Good while frozen | Plan for what happens at thaw — a level box can settle |
Preparing the Ground
A container carries its entire load on its four corner castings, so what sits under those corners decides whether the doors still latch in a year. A compacted gravel pad with solid concrete blocks under each corner handles the vast majority of storage installations. Permanent installations, poor soil, and anywhere frost heave is a factor call for piers or footings below the local frost line.
The full comparison of gravel, blocks, piers and slabs — with the levelling tolerances that matter — is in the foundation and ground prep guide. Do that reading before delivery day, not after.
Delivery-Day Checklist
| When | Do this |
|---|---|
| A week before | Confirm the pad is built, compacted and level. Order blocks or shims if you need them. |
| A week before | Walk the full approach route and cut back branches. Check overhead lines. |
| Two days before | Move vehicles, trailers, bins and equipment off the run. Mark the pad corners with stakes. |
| The day before | Mark clearly which end the doors should face — this cannot be changed later without lifting gear. |
| On the day | Have somebody on site the whole time who can make decisions about placement. |
| Before the driver leaves | Walk the container: doors open and close, no daylight inside, no new damage. Note anything on the paperwork. |
| After | Check the corners are level across both diagonals; shim now while access is easy. |
Placement Decisions Worth Getting Right
- Door orientation. Point the doors where you will actually approach from, with room for the full swing. Changing this later means paying for lifting equipment.
- Doors uphill. On any slope, put the door end on the high side so water runs away from the opening.
- Leave working room. At least a couple of feet along one long side for painting, inspection and repairs.
- Think about the second container. If you might add one, leave the access run clear rather than blocking it with the first box.
- Keep vegetation off the steel. Plants against the walls hold moisture and accelerate corrosion.
What the Flat $500 Covers
The delivery fee covers transport to your address anywhere in the 50 states and tilt-bed placement on a prepared, accessible site. It does not cover cranes or specialist lifting equipment, ground preparation, permits, or a return trip caused by a site the truck cannot use. If your site is difficult, say so before you order — it costs nothing to plan around and a great deal to discover on the day. Full terms are in our shipping policy.
Sizing the Order to the Access You Have
If your site genuinely cannot take an 80-foot straight run, the practical answer is often a smaller box rather than a crane. A new 10ft x 8ft container or a unit from the 30ft container range will reach places a 40ft never will. For larger sites with straightforward access, a watertight 40ft high cube gives the most capacity per delivery.
Sites needing several units — construction compounds, yards, storage operations — are usually best planned as a single mobilization. The storage containers for sale listings and the modular buildings range cover most multi-unit requirements. If you want to talk a site through before ordering, browse the catalog for the unit you have in mind and then call us with the dimensions of your access.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much space do I need for a container delivery?
Allow the container's length plus roughly 40 feet of straight, firm clearance — about 60 feet for a 20ft unit and 80 feet for a 40ft. You also need around 12 feet of clear width along the whole approach and about 15 feet of overhead clearance, plus about 8 feet at the door end for the doors to swing.
Can a container be delivered onto grass?
Sometimes, but expect ruts, and wet turf can stop a loaded truck outright. Ground that will hold a static container is not the same as ground that will hold the delivery rig. If the approach is soft, lay a temporary gravel or hardcore route, or arrange placement by crane instead.
How long does container delivery take?
Delivery is scheduled 5–10 business days after payment clears. The unload itself usually takes well under an hour on a prepared site — most of the time on the day goes into positioning the truck, not sliding the container off.
Does the driver place the container exactly where I want it?
Within the limits of what a tilt-bed can reach, yes — which is why marking the pad and the door orientation in advance matters so much. The truck must be able to line up straight with the intended position and travel forward the container's length while unloading, so placements requiring a sideways or over-obstacle move need a crane.
What should I check before the driver leaves?
Open and close both doors, step inside with the doors closed and look for daylight, and walk the exterior for damage that is not on the listing photographs. Note anything you find on the paperwork before the driver departs, and check that all four corners are sitting level across both diagonals.