Shipping Container Delivery Options
We offer three main container delivery options, but we can arrange for special deliveries if required. We can also supply containers without delivery if you have your own truck or want to use your own haulier.
If you have any questions, concerns or queries about the delivery options explained below, we would strongly advise you to contact us first. We would much prefer you ask us what may seem to be a silly question than risk complications or a failed delivery.
Standard Container Delivery
A standard container truck with no cranes on it will deliver your container. This is the cheapest method (per mile) to move a shipping container. This is also the best option if you are able to safely lift the container off the truck yourselves (if the container is to be left at the site) or if you can safely load the container whilst it sits on the back of the truck (in a few hours) before the container is then taken directly to a port or container terminal which is equipped to lift off the shipping container.
Ordinarily the driver will wait with the truck whilst you load the container and they will drive direct to port (or final destination) once loaded.
Hiab Crane Equipped Delivery
A Hiab crane equipped vehicle is used to deliver and lift off your container (empty containers only). These have a single crane arm. They are more expensive per mile to run that a truck without a crane attached but they are generally much cheaper than arranging a separate crane to to lift off your container.
These Hiab equipped trucks have a single delivery arm and can only lift the container off the sides of the vehicle. Some hauliers do have vehicles that can lift over the cab or off the rear, but, they are limited to certain locations such as London.
We have a video of a 20ft shipping container being delivered with more detail for customers needing a Hiab delivery in our news section. Please click the link to go direct to this article (opens in new window).
Sidelifter Equipped Delivery
This option is only required if you’re purchasing an export shipping container and you need the container lifting off and leaving on site before it is loaded and then picked up at a later date and taken to a port. For this type of job you will need a sidelifter to pick up your loaded container. As these operate differently from Hiab crane vehicles its important for us to know that you intend to move the container once it is loaded. This option requires that we know in advance and are able to prepare for the specific site and access requirements required to ensure your job runs smoothly.
Other Delivery Options
In some cases we may need to arrange special delivery options for you. These might be necessary when there is restricted access (e.g. low bridges or tight site access) or specialist positioning requirements (e.g. under cover or other overhead obstructions, on soft ground or need to drop the container in a location where our truck may not be able to get near too). We are very experienced with tricky deliveries, but we need to know about any tricky deliveries well in advance of booking your delivery. Please call us to discuss your specific requirements and we can make sure that we get the correct vehicle on the job for you.
Customer Collection
We are more than happy to supply shipping containers ‘ex depot’ if you wish to do your own collection.
All our depots have lifting facilities to lift the container onto your truck. Your truck will have to be a standard skeletal frame container trailer or a flatbed. Your trailer must have twist locks and your haulier and driver will have to comply with depot health and safety requirements which will usually involve your driver following depot instructions and having full PPE wear with them.
On receipt of your payment we will give you the depot address, the contact number and a release reference. We recommend checking with the depot before collection to ensure that the container is dug out of stack and ready to collect, and if you have any specific questions regarding the depot’s health and safety requirements we recommend you check in advance directly with the depot. If the depot has concerns over the vehicles suitability to safely carry the container they may refuse to give it to your driver. Due to the ‘heavy industry’ nature of the work, these yards can often be very strict with their health and safety requirements.
Yards and ports can also close at short notice, due to high winds halting lifting operations. This is beyond our control and also a reason why we recommend checking with the depot before sending a truck in.
You will have to collect the container within 14-days of supply of release reference, failure to collect within this period may mean we cancel the release reference and we may pass forward any storage charges incurred beyond this time frame.