Delivery Guidelines: How to Prepare Your Site

“We bring the steel. You pick the spot.”

At Container Supcon, we offer Free Worldwide Shipping to make buying a container easy. However, a shipping container is a massive piece of industrial equipment. A standard 40ft container weighs nearly 9,000 lbs (4 tons), and the truck delivering it adds another 20,000+ lbs.

To ensure a safe and successful delivery, please follow this guide to prepare your site before our driver arrives.

1. Choose the Right Delivery Method

Most of our “to-door” deliveries are performed using a Tilt-Bed Truck (also known as a Roll-Off). This is the easiest, most hassle-free method as it does not require you to rent a crane.

How a Tilt-Bed Works:

The truck backs into your desired location.
The driver tilts the bed of the truck upwards.
The container slides off the back until the corners touch the ground.
The truck pulls forward, allowing the container to slide completely off and settle onto the ground.

2. Space Requirements (The “Runway”)

The most common reason for a failed delivery is a lack of space. The truck needs a long, straight line to pull out from under the container. We call this the “Runway.”

Please measure your space against these minimums:

For a 20ft Container:

Total Straight Line Distance: You need 60 feet (18 meters) of open straight space.
Width: Minimum 12 feet (3.5 meters) wide.
Height Clearance: Minimum 14 feet (4.2 meters) vertical clearance.

For a 40ft Container:

Total Straight Line Distance: You need 110 feet (33 meters) of open straight space.
Width: Minimum 12 feet (3.5 meters) wide.
Height Clearance: Minimum 14 feet (4.2 meters) vertical clearance.

3. Ground Conditions (Don’t Get Stuck)

Our trucks are heavy. If the ground is soft, wet, or muddy, the truck will sink and get stuck.

Surface: The best surfaces are concrete, asphalt, paved road, or compacted gravel.
Grass/Dirt: We can deliver on grass or dirt, but it must be dry. If it has rained recently, please contact us to reschedule.
The “Sink” Rule: If a standard passenger car leaves tire tracks in the grass, our delivery truck cannot drive on it.

Important: If the driver determines the ground is too soft and risks getting stuck, they have the right to refuse delivery to that specific spot. They will drop the container at the nearest safe paved area (e.g., your driveway).

4. Look Up! (Overhead Obstacles)

Drivers are constantly looking down at the road, so you must look up.

Walk the path the truck will take and check for:

Low-hanging tree branches: These can damage the truck’s hydraulics or the container. Please trim them back.
Power Lines / Phone Lines: This is a serious safety hazard. The truck bed lifts high into the air. Ensure there are no wires directly above the drop site.
Gate Arches: Ensure your entrance gate is at least 14ft high.

5. Foundation & Leveling

A shipping container needs to sit on a level surface. If the ground is uneven, the container will “rack” (twist), and you will not be able to open or close the doors.

We recommend:

Railroad Ties (Wood Blocks): Place a block of pressure-treated wood under each of the 4 corners. This keeps the steel off the damp ground and allows for air circulation.
Concrete Pavers: A simple concrete block under each corner works perfectly.
Gravel Pad: A bed of crushed gravel helps with drainage.

Note: Our drivers do not carry leveling blocks. Please have your wood or blocks ready and marked out before the driver arrives.

6. Door Orientation (Heads or Tails?)

When you order, our logistics team will ask how you want the container loaded. This determines where the doors will face when it lands.

Doors to Cab (forward): When the truck tilts, the back of the container hits the ground first. The doors will be the last thing to come off the truck. (Great if you want the doors facing your house).
Doors to Rear (backward): The doors are at the back of the truck. The doors will be the first thing to touch the ground. (Great if you want the doors facing a fence or property line).

7. Delivery Day Checklist

On the morning of delivery, please ensure:

[ ] Phone On: Keep your phone nearby. The driver will call you when they are 30-60 minutes away.
[ ] Clear the Path: Move all cars, tractors, and equipment out of the “Runway.”
[ ] Mark the Spot: Use cones, a bucket, or spray paint to mark exactly where you want the 4 corners to sit.
[ ] Blocks Ready: Have your wood or concrete blocks sitting nearby (not exactly in the spot, or the truck might run them over—have them ready to slide under as the container lowers).

Still have questions about your site? Snap a few photos of your drop-off location and email them to our team. We are happy to review your site access virtually!

Email: contact@containersupcon.com

Number: (+1) 318 507-6925

Address: 300 Dolphin Dr, Chalmette, LA 70043, USA