Inland Container Depots: How They Work

What an inland container depot does, how it differs from a port terminal, what it charges for, and how to pick one for pickup, drop-off or storage.

What an Inland Container Depot Is

A yard away from the quay where containers are stored, inspected, repaired and handed over between parties. It is not a port terminal: no vessel calls there, no customs boundary is crossed on site. Its job is to hold equipment close to where cargo actually starts or ends, so the box does not sit on expensive quay space waiting for a truck.

Inland Depot vs Port Terminal

A port terminal works to a vessel schedule and charges for quay time; an inland depot works to a truck schedule and charges for yard time. Terminal free time is short and demurrage escalates fast. Depot storage is cheaper per day and far more flexible, which is why most pickups and drop-offs on a sale or a one-way lease are set at a depot rather than at the terminal.

Gate-Out and Gate-In

Gate-out is the release: the depot hands the unit to a nominated hauler against a release reference, and an Equipment Interchange Receipt records its condition at that moment. Gate-in is the return: the depot inspects, records damage and accepts or refuses the unit. The EIR at each gate is what decides who pays for damage later, so it matters more than any other document in the chain.

What a Depot Charges For

Lift on and lift off, a gate fee at each movement, storage per container per day beyond any free days, and repair when an inspection finds damage. Cleaning and fumigation are billed when a unit needs them before reuse. Reefer units add plug-in and monitoring charges. These are the line items to check before agreeing a pickup location, because a cheap unit at an expensive depot is not cheap.

Free Days, Storage and Per Diem

Free days are the grace period before storage starts, counted from gate-in or from release depending on the contract. Storage is what the depot charges to keep a box in its yard. Per diem is different: it is what a leasing counterparty charges for the use of the equipment itself. The two run in parallel on a lease and are settled separately, which is a common source of disputed invoices.

Inspection and Grade

Depots inspect against recognised criteria rather than opinion. Cargo Worthy means the unit is fit for ocean carriage; IICL is a stricter leasing standard; Wind and Water Tight is a storage-grade judgement with no carriage warranty; As-Is means damage is accepted by the buyer. A depot inspection is the practical moment where a grade stops being a description and becomes a decision you pay for.

Choosing a Depot for Pickup or Drop-Off

Distance from the site is rarely the deciding factor. What decides is whether the depot holds the type and grade you need, what its gate hours and notice period are, what it charges for storage after free days, and whether it accepts the return of the equipment you are taking out. A depot that cannot take the unit back turns a one-way move into an open-ended exposure.

Depot Networks and Repositioning

Equipment accumulates where imports land and drains where exports load, so depot stock is structurally uneven. Repositioning exists to correct that imbalance, and it is why the same type and grade can cost materially different amounts in two cities a day apart. Buying where the surplus sits and paying for the haul is frequently cheaper than buying locally.

What is an inland container depot?

A yard away from the quay where containers are stored, inspected, repaired and handed over between parties. No vessel calls there and no customs boundary is crossed on site. Its purpose is to hold equipment close to where cargo actually starts or ends, so a box does not occupy expensive quay space while it waits for a truck.

How is an inland depot different from a port container terminal?

A terminal works to a vessel schedule and charges for quay time; a depot works to a truck schedule and charges for yard time. Terminal free time is short and demurrage escalates quickly, while depot storage is cheaper per day and far more flexible. That is why most pickups and drop-offs on a sale or a one-way lease are set at a depot rather than at the terminal.

What does a container depot charge for?

Lift on and lift off, a gate fee at each movement, storage per container per day beyond any free days, and repair when an inspection finds damage. Cleaning and fumigation are billed when a unit needs them before reuse, and reefers add plug-in and monitoring charges. A cheap container at an expensive depot is not a cheap container.

What is an EIR and why does it matter?

The Equipment Interchange Receipt records the condition of a unit at the moment it changes hands, at gate-out and again at gate-in. It is the document that decides who pays for damage found later. Photographs and a signed EIR at each gate are worth more than any clause in the contract, because they establish the facts the clause is applied to.

What is the difference between storage, free days and per diem?

Free days are the grace period before storage starts. Storage is what the depot charges to keep the box in its yard. Per diem is different: it is what a leasing counterparty charges for the use of the equipment itself. On a lease the two run in parallel and are settled separately, which is one of the most common sources of disputed invoices.

How do I choose a depot for pickup or drop-off?

Distance is rarely the deciding factor. What decides is whether the depot holds the type and grade you need, its gate hours and notice period, what it charges once free days expire, and whether it will accept the equipment back. A depot that cannot take the unit back turns a one-way move into an open-ended exposure.

Why does the same container cost different amounts at two nearby depots?

Because equipment accumulates where imports land and drains where exports load, so depot stock is structurally uneven. Repositioning exists to correct that imbalance and it is priced into the unit. Buying where the surplus sits and paying for the haul is frequently cheaper than buying locally.