Shipping Container Delivery

There are a few different ways to get a shipping container delivered to your property. Each has unique requirements resulting in different costs. Our instant quotes include accurate delivery costs based on your location and the delivery method you select. There are no hidden fees at First Class Containers!

Q. How much does it cost to deliver a shipping container?

Q. Does it cost more to deliver a 40ft shipping container than a 20ft container?

No. Both 40ft shipping containers and 20ft shipping containers are delivered the same ways. Therefore, typically, there is no difference in the delivery cost for a 40ft or 20 ft container. However, if a customer needs a smaller trailer or tow truck to maneuver sharp turns, it may require additional costs. 

Q. Is the container delivery cost included when financing a container?

Yes. At First Class Containers, we offer two shipping container financing options; a rent-to-own program and a more traditional financing option. In both cases, the container delivery price is included in the terms of the financing.

Q. What are the different shipping container delivery methods?

Q. When you place my shipping container, where will the door face?

When scheduling your container delivery, you should tell us what direction you want the doors to face when the container is on the ground. That helps us figure out the “door orientation,” which refers to the direction the doors should face when loaded on the trailer.

Think about where you want the driver to place the shipping container and then also consider the shipping container’s surroundings. Those factors will help you decide between:

Doors Forwards

The doors will face the back of the truck and will be the last thing off the trailer as it is delivered. An example of using doors forward would be if you are placing your container against a fence, barn or other structure.

Doors To The Rear

The doors will face away from the truck and will be the first thing off the trailer as it is delivered

Q. What do I need to do to prepare for delivery?

If you’re getting the standard tilt/troll-off delivery, your property must be accessible by truck and trailer and there must be a relatively flat cleared area to place the shipping container. See exact shipping container dimensions here to make sure you’re clearing enough room for your container. Many customers get the container placed on bare ground (grass or dirt), while others prepare a foundation.

The common types of foundations for shipping containers include asphalt, concrete slabs, gravel base, concrete blocks or piers, and railroad ties or pressure treated beams.

Q. How does inclement weather (rain or snow) affect delivery or price?

Typically, it does not affect pricing. There is an abundance of caution taken before scheduling a delivery, including back and forth communication with the customer and watching weather forecasts to do our best to avoid delivering in poor conditions. Our customers, and First Class Containers, don’t want the delivery driver to get stuck on, or negatively impact, a customer’s property. So, we do our research to pinpoint the most ideal date and time to deliver. We also ask our customers to call us in advance of their delivery if the weather may cause a problem.

Q. What if the weather looks like it might cause a delivery issue?

In the majority of cases, a little rain will not impact delivery. However, if the weather is especially wet, causing the soft ground areas to turn muddy, we would recommend delaying delivery until ground conditions improve. Muddy conditions can prohibit the driver from being able to place the shipping container in the customer’s desired location.

Frozen ground is OK because it is a solid surface – provided it is not too icy to get traction. Soft ground is a potential issue because the delivery truck could impact the customer’s property and potentially cause the driver to get stuck. We want every customer to have a successful delivery, so we do our best to ensure these issues are avoided.

Q. Do drivers work for First Class Containers or do you use a shipping container delivery service?

We contract only with DOT approved trucking companies that have all the required insurance and safety qualifications per federal regulations. We contract them because they’re dedicated to our high standards and pass our container inspection mandate. They know exactly what we expect of them and they follow our strict delivery protocol to ensure a safe delivery.

Q. What else about your shipping container delivery process sets you apart from the competition?

Our delivery process includes a five-point inspection performed by our drivers on every shipping container prior to loading. The driver then goes over the inspection with the customer at the delivery. The five-point inspection includes:

1. There are no visible holes in this container
2. The seals appear to be intact
3. The floors are intact and in good condition
4. The doors on the shipping container open, close and latch
5. The door handles are intact