How to Prepare Your Site for Shipping Container Delivery

Getting a shipping container delivered is straightforward when your site is ready. Problems on delivery day almost always come down to the same things: ground that will not support the lorry, access routes that are too narrow or too low, and placement that has not been thought through in advance.

This guide covers everything you need to consider before your container arrives, so delivery goes smoothly first time.

How Shipping Containers Are Delivered

At Container Sales (UK) Ltd, containers are delivered by HIAB lorry. A HIAB is a lorry fitted with a crane, which lifts the container from the vehicle and places it precisely where you need it on your site. This means the container does not need to slide off the back of a lorry or be manoeuvred by machinery on your end.

HIAB delivery gives you flexibility on placement, but it does require your site to meet certain access and ground conditions. The wagons cannot drive off-road and must always travel on hardstanding or suitable temporary trackways.

Step 1: Check Your Access Route

Before booking delivery, walk your access route from the road to the intended placement area and consider the following:

Width: A HIAB lorry is typically around 2.5 to 3 metres wide. Factor in mirrors and allow a minimum of 3.5 metres of clear width throughout the access route, including any gateways, entrances, or pinch points. If your access is tighter than this, let us know before booking and we can discuss options.

Length: HIAB lorries vary in size depending on the delivery. A rigid HIAB wagon is typically around 10 metres long. For two 20ft containers or a single 40ft container, a larger articulated vehicle of up to 16.5 metres may be required. Ensure there is enough straight-line space to enter, position alongside the drop zone, and exit safely.

Overhead clearance: This is one of the most commonly overlooked access issues. HIAB cranes extend upward during offloading, requiring clear overhead space. Overhead power lines, telephone cables, tree branches, and building eaves are all potential obstructions. If any are present along the access route or directly above the placement area, flag this before delivery day. Drivers will not operate the crane near live overhead cables.

Surface: Our delivery vehicles are heavy, particularly when carrying a loaded container. The access route must be hardstanding throughout, including tarmac, concrete, or equivalent firm surface. Grass, soft ground, gravel over soil, mud, or uncompacted surfaces are not suitable. If your access includes any of these, temporary trackway may need to be laid before delivery.

Step 2: Prepare the Ground at the Placement Area

Where you place the container matters, both for stability now and for how easy it is to use over time. The ground at the placement area needs to meet the following requirements.

Level and firm: Containers must sit level to function correctly. Doors that are difficult to open or close are almost always the result of a container that has been placed on uneven ground and has racked slightly over time. The placement area should be as flat as possible. If it is not perfectly level, concrete blocks, railway sleepers, or steel pads placed under each corner casting are the most reliable solution.

Load-bearing: A 20ft container has a tare weight of approximately 2,200kg, and a 40ft container around 3,800kg. The ground needs to support the combined weight of the lorry during offloading as well as the container itself once placed. Soft ground, waterlogged areas, or ground with weak sub-base are likely to cause problems.

Drainage: Avoid placing a container in a low-lying area where water collects. Pooling water around or beneath the base of a container accelerates the rate of corrosion on the base rails and floor structure over time. Slightly raised or well-drained ground is preferable.

No underground services: Check for buried pipes, cables, or drainage runs beneath the intended placement area before the lorry moves across it. Utility companies and your local council can provide service mapping if you are unsure.

Step 3: Think About Placement and Orientation

The HIAB crane can place a container at a range of angles relative to the lorry, giving you more flexibility than you might expect. Before delivery, consider the following:

Door access: Decide which direction you want the doors to face before delivery. Moving a container after it has been placed is not straightforward. Think about where you will be accessing the container from on a daily basis and plan accordingly. Doors facing a wall, fence, or bank are a common and avoidable mistake.

Clearance around the container: A standard 20ft container is just over 6 metres long and 2.4 metres wide. You will need enough space alongside and in front of the doors to open them fully and move items in and out comfortably. For 40ft containers, allow for the additional length when planning the layout of the surrounding area.

Future use: If there is any chance you will want to add a second container alongside the first, stack containers, or extend the available storage in future, think about how your initial placement will affect those options. Leaving adequate space from the outset is much easier than trying to reposition later.

Visibility and security: If security is a priority, consider whether the container will be visible from the road or easily accessed by anyone other than you. Positioning in a more discreet location, combined with appropriate locking systems, reduces opportunist risk.

Step 4: Be Ready on Delivery Day

Once your site is prepared, a few practical steps on the day will keep things running smoothly.

Make sure someone is on site to meet the driver and confirm the exact placement position. The driver will carry out a brief assessment of the access and placement area before lifting the container. If there is any change to the access arrangements since booking, contact us as early as possible.

Clear the placement area and access route of any vehicles, equipment, or obstructions before the lorry arrives. Keep people and pets clear of the crane and container during offloading.

Once the container is in position, check the doors open and close correctly before the driver leaves. If there is any issue, it is much easier to address on delivery day than afterwards.

Site Preparation Checklist

Use this before confirming your delivery date:

• Access route is hardstanding throughout, no soft or wet ground
• Minimum 3.5 metres of clear width along the full access route
• No low bridges, height barriers, or narrow gateways on the approach
• Overhead cables and obstructions identified and flagged to our team
• Placement area is level, firm, and well drained
• No underground services beneath the lorry route or placement area
• Door direction and final position confirmed
• Space cleared for the lorry to manoeuvre and exit safely
• Someone available on site to meet the driver

Speak to Us Before You Book

If you have any concerns about your access or site conditions, the best time to raise them is before delivery day, not on it. Our team has extensive experience of deliveries across Scotland and the North East of England and can advise on whether your site is suitable or whether any preparation is needed.

Contact Container Sales (UK) Ltd to discuss your delivery requirements. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of lorry delivers shipping containers?

We deliver using HIAB lorries, which are fitted with a crane that lifts the container off the vehicle and places it on your site. The size of lorry used depends on the number and size of containers being delivered.

Can a HIAB lorry drive on grass or soft ground?

No. Our wagons cannot drive off-road and must always travel on hardstanding or suitable temporary trackways. Soft ground, grass, mud, or gravel over soil are not suitable surfaces for delivery vehicles.

How much clearance does the delivery lorry need?

Allow a minimum of 3.5 metres of clear width throughout the access route. The lorry will also need adequate length to position alongside the placement area and exit safely after delivery.

Does the placement area need to be perfectly level?

It should be as level as possible. If it is not, concrete blocks, railway sleepers, or steel pads placed under each corner casting will keep the container stable and prevent door problems over time.

What should I do if I have overhead cables near the delivery area?

Let us know before booking delivery. Drivers will not operate the crane near live overhead cables. We can advise on options once we know the specifics of your site.