Technical Resource

    Shipping Container Delivery Guide

    Everything US buyers need to know before delivery day, truck access, offload methods, common failure points, and a site checklist that prevents the $800 reschedule charge.

    Delivery Workflow

    From purchase order to drop-off

    A typical US container delivery cycles through six stages over 3–10 business days. Knowing the sequence helps you flag problems before they cost a delivery slot.

    1

    Order confirmation

    Container number, grade, depot of origin and delivery zip are locked. Title transfers at the depot gate.

    2

    Site qualification call

    Dispatcher reviews access (driveway width, overhead clearance, surface) and confirms tilt-bed vs crane. 10 minutes, but skipping it causes most failed deliveries.

    3

    Depot release

    Container is pulled, photographed and staged for pickup. CSC plate and unit number verified against the purchase order.

    4

    Trucker dispatch

    Local trucking company assigned. You receive driver name and contact details 24h before the slot.

    5

    Delivery window

    2–4 hour window, typically 0700–1500 local. Driver calls 30 minutes out. Have someone on-site with authority to redirect the drop.

    6

    Drop and walk

    Tilt offload takes 5–10 minutes. Walk the container, sign the BOL, photograph any new damage immediately.

    Truck Access Requirements

    What the truck needs to reach your site

    Tilt-bed delivery is the most common offload method in the US. These are the minimum clearances:

    Dimension20ft delivery40ft delivery
    Straight pull-back behind truck80 ft100 ft
    Path width (truck + maneuver)12 ft12 ft
    Vertical clearance14 ft14 ft
    Turning radius at entry40 ft50 ft
    Max ground slope8%8%
    Surface load rating50,000 lb60,000 lb

    Soft ground, recently paved asphalt (under 30 days), septic field locations and culverts under driveways are all common deal-breakers. Mark them on the site photo you send the dispatcher.

    Unloading Methods

    Three ways to get the container on the ground

    Tilt-bed (roll-off)

    $400–$900

    Trailer tilts up, container slides off and lands square. Default for ground-level placement on flat sites with rear pull-back room.

    HIAB / boom truck

    $750–$2,500

    Hydraulic crane mounted on the delivery truck lifts the container up to 25 ft sideways. Used for foundations, side placements, stacking, or tight sites.

    Separate crane service

    $1,200–$5,000

    Dedicated rough-terrain or mobile crane. Required for setting on raised foundations, second-tier stacking, or moves over 30 ft of clearance.

    Common Delivery Issues

    Why deliveries fail, and what it costs you

    Low overhead wires

    Power, cable and tree branches under 14 ft. The driver cannot duck, they will turn around. Trim or relocate before delivery day.

    Typical cost: $500–$1,000 reschedule

    Soft ground after rain

    Tilt-bed trucks weigh 35,000–45,000 lb empty. Recently saturated lawn or unimproved dirt collapses under the rear axle.

    Typical cost: $1,500–$5,000 tow + property damage

    Tight gate or driveway entry

    Mailboxes, gate posts and decorative pillars at the driveway entrance kill the 50 ft turning radius.

    Typical cost: $400–$1,200 failed delivery

    Slope greater than 8%

    On a steep driveway the container can slide off the tilt-bed unpredictably. Drivers refuse on the spot.

    Typical cost: Crane upgrade $750+

    Wrong placement direction

    Container doors face the tilt direction by default. If you need doors facing the building, say so before dispatch, re-spinning a 40ft on-site costs hours.

    Typical cost: $200–$500 hourly truck time

    No one on-site

    Driver needs sign-off and authority to relocate the drop. Without it, the container leaves on the trailer.

    Typical cost: Full reschedule fee

    Site Checklist

    Run this 48 hours before delivery

    If you can tick every box, the delivery is far more likely to go through on the first attempt. If any box is unchecked, call the dispatcher, it is always cheaper than the reschedule.

    For ground and foundation preparation before the container arrives, see our site preparation guide.

    FAQ

    Frequently asked questions

    A tilt-bed (roll-off) delivery uses a single-axle or tandem-axle truck approximately 65–75 ft long including the trailer. The truck needs at least 100 ft of straight pull-forward room after the container drops, plus a turning radius of 50 ft to enter the site.

    Yes, if the driveway is 12 ft wide, has no overhead obstructions under 14 ft, and the surface can support 60,000 lb gross weight. Residential driveways often fail on the slope test (more than 8% grade) confirm with the dispatcher before delivery day.

    Tilt-bed is the default for ground-level placement and runs $400–$900 per move in most US markets. Crane (HIAB or boom truck) is required when you need to set the container on a foundation, between obstacles, or place a second container on top. Crane offloads run $750–$2,500 depending on reach and time on-site.

    Plan for 100 ft of straight clearance behind the truck, 12 ft of side clearance, and 14 ft of vertical clearance. Trees, low wires, mailboxes, gutters and gate posts all kill deliveries, measure twice.

    Three options: (1) drop the container as close as possible and arrange a separate crane move, (2) reschedule with a HIAB crane truck that can lift over obstacles up to 25 ft away, or (3) move the obstacle. Failed-delivery fees range from $400 to $1,200 plus rescheduling cost.

    The driver positions and tilts the trailer; the container slides off under its own weight onto your ground. The buyer is responsible for confirming the surface is suitable and for any property damage during placement. We recommend having someone on-site with authority to relocate the drop point if needed.

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    Need a container delivered in the US?

    Send us your zip code and a photo of the site. We will route the closest depot, confirm tilt-bed vs crane, and quote delivery into your project window.

    Related: Site Preparation · Container Buying Guide · Size Guide