delivery Requirements

 No matter which delivery method we use, firm, flat ground is mandatory for a ground-level delivery. Shipping containers and the trucks that haul them are incredibly heavy (a standard 20' container weighs 5,000 lbs, and a 40' weighs around 8,500 lbs empty).

When we tilt the bed to set the container on the ground, the massive weight of the container pushes down and out on the rear axles of the truck.

• Ideal Surfaces: Paved surfaces (concrete or asphalt) and compacted gravel are best.
• Avoid: Soft dirt, mud, wet grass, or loose sand. Delivering on soft surfaces can cause the heavy delivery truck to sink or get stuck, potentially damaging your property.
• Level Placement: Your final drop site needs to be relatively flat. If the container rests on uneven ground, the steel frame can twist slightly over time, making the heavy cargo doors very difficult to open and close.

This is our standard ground-level delivery method for 20-foot shipping containers. Our driver will back the truck into your designated spot, the bed tilts backward, and the container gently slides onto the ground as the driver pulls the truck forward.

• Straight Clearance: We require approximately 60 feet of straight clearance to give the truck enough room to pull forward as the container slides off.
• Width Clearance: A minimum of 10 to 12 feet of width is needed to navigate driveways or gates.
• Overhead Clearance: Please ensure the path is free of low-hanging tree branches, power lines, and structural overhangs to account for the truck bed tilting upward.

 Because of their massive size, 40-foot containers require a heavy-duty semi-truck pulling a specialized 40' tilt trailer. The offloading process works the same as the 20' delivery, but on a much larger scale.

• Straight Clearance: We require approximately 120 feet of straight, uninterrupted space. The truck must pull straight forward to drop the load and cannot turn while the container is sliding off the trailer.
• Width & Turning Radius: Minimum of 10 to 12 feet of width, plus a wide turning radius for the semi-truck to safely enter your property from the street.
• Overhead Clearance: Requires 14 to 16 feet of vertical clearance when the 40' trailer tilts up.

 Don't have 60 to 120 feet of straight clearance? Need a container placed in a difficult-to-reach backyard? Port City Containers can utilize a "Mule" delivery for tight, restricted spaces.

The Mule is a compact, highly maneuverable motorized lift that attaches directly to one end of your shipping container. Heavy-duty wheeled dollies are placed under the opposite end, allowing the operator to drive and steer the container completely independently of the large delivery truck. 

• Minimal Space Required: The Mule drastically reduces clearance needs, only requiring the length of the container (20' or 40') plus room for a tight turning radius.
• Precision Placement: It can navigate sharp corners, weave around obstacles, and place containers in precise locations where a full-sized tilt trailer could never fit. 
• Gentler on Your Property: Because the heavy delivery truck stays parked on the street or solid driveway, the Mule significantly minimizes the risk of tearing up your lawn or cracking residential concrete.