Access, Clearance, Foundations & Placement
One of the most overlooked parts of purchasing a shipping container is planning how it will actually get onto your property.
Shipping containers are large, heavy pieces of equipment. The container itself may fit perfectly in the location you’ve selected while the delivery truck cannot safely reach or unload at that location.
A little planning before delivery can prevent most problems.
How Are Shipping Containers Delivered?
At Level 7 Containers, 20′ containers are typically delivered using a 20′ flatbed tow truck with a tilt-off bed. The bed tilts while the truck slowly pulls forward, allowing the container to slide into position.
40′ containers require larger delivery equipment and are typically delivered using a 40′ tilt-bed trailer pulled by a day-cab tractor. Because of the overall length of the truck and trailer, 40′ deliveries require considerably more maneuvering room and a clear approach to the placement area.
Regardless of container size, the delivery vehicle needs enough room not only to reach the site, but also to line up with the placement location, raise the tilt bed, unload the container, and safely exit the property.
The important thing to understand is that the truck doesn’t simply need enough room to reach the placement location. It also needs enough room to line up, tilt the bed, unload the container, and drive back out.
How Much Space Is Needed for Delivery?
As a general planning guideline, expect approximately:
| Container Size | Approximate Straight-Line Space |
|---|---|
| 20′ Container | Around 60–75 feet |
| 40′ Container | Around 100–120 feet |
These aren’t guarantees. The actual space required depends on several factors, including:
- Delivery equipment
- Driveway width
- Approach angle
- Ground conditions
- Slopes
- Trees and landscaping
- Buildings and fences
- Placement orientation
If your property is tight, send us photos before delivery. It is much easier to identify a potential problem beforehand than after a truck arrives.
Check Your Width
A shipping container is approximately 8 feet wide, but an 8-foot-wide opening is not enough delivery clearance.
The delivery truck and trailer are wider and need room to maneuver.
Check the entire route for:
- Narrow gates
- Fence posts
- Buildings
- Retaining walls
- Trees
- Mailboxes
- Parked vehicles
- Landscaping
- Tight turns
A straight approach is always preferable.
Don’t Forget Overhead Clearance
Look up—not just around.
Potential overhead obstacles include:
- Power lines
- Communication lines
- Tree branches
- Building overhangs
- Garage eaves
Remember that the container is sitting on top of a truck during delivery.
A Standard container is already 8’6″ tall, while a High Cube is 9’6″ tall before it is even loaded onto the delivery equipment.
Additional overhead clearance is also required while the bed is raised during unloading.
Never assume a wire or branch is high enough simply because a container sitting on the ground would fit underneath it.
Does the Ground Need to Be Level?
Perfectly level isn’t necessary, but reasonably level and stable is important.
Shipping containers are structurally supported primarily at their four corner castings. If those corners aren’t sitting properly, the container can twist slightly.
Even a relatively small amount of twisting can make cargo doors noticeably harder to open and close.
Proper support helps keep the container square.
What Should a Shipping Container Sit On?
You generally don’t need to pour an expensive concrete foundation simply to use a container for storage.
Common foundation options include:
- Compacted gravel
- Concrete blocks or pads
- Railroad ties or heavy timbers
- Concrete footings
- Existing concrete or asphalt surfaces
For many residential and commercial storage applications, a compacted gravel pad is an excellent option because it provides a firm surface while allowing water to drain away from the container.
The goal is simple: a firm, level, well-drained surface.
Should a Container Sit Directly on Dirt or Grass?
It can, but that isn’t usually the best long-term setup.
Bare soil can settle unevenly, hold moisture, and become soft during wet conditions.
This creates two potential problems.
First, the container may settle unevenly and become out of level.
Second, prolonged moisture underneath and around the steel structure can contribute to corrosion over time.
Even a relatively simple gravel base or properly placed supports can significantly improve long-term placement.
Drainage Matters
Water shouldn’t continuously collect underneath or around the container.
Ideally, the site should allow rainwater to move away from the container rather than underneath it.
Avoid low areas where water routinely pools.
If you’re building a gravel pad, extending the pad slightly beyond the container footprint can improve drainage and make the area around the doors easier to maintain.
Pay Special Attention to the Door End
The door end is where leveling matters most.
If the container twists because one corner settles lower than another, the doors may become difficult to operate even though nothing is actually wrong with the doors.
You should also leave enough room in front of the container to fully open both cargo doors.
Each cargo door is roughly four feet wide and swings outward.
Consider what will be located in front of the container after installation—not just on delivery day.
Think About Door Orientation Before Delivery
Before the truck arrives, decide which direction you want the cargo doors facing.
Consider:
- Where you’ll approach the container
- Vehicle access
- Buildings
- Driveways
- Snow and water drainage
- Security
- How often you’ll access it
- Where equipment will enter and exit
The delivery driver should know the desired orientation before delivery begins.
Can the Delivery Truck Drive Across My Yard?
Possibly—but ground conditions matter.
A loaded delivery truck is heavy. Ground that seems firm when walking across it can behave very differently under a commercial truck carrying a shipping container.
Recent rain, soft soil, septic systems, buried utilities, irrigation systems, and drainage areas all need to be considered.
If there’s any question about ground conditions, tell us before delivery.
Ultimately, the driver has to determine whether an area can be accessed safely without risking the truck, container, or property.
Septic Systems and Underground Utilities
This deserves special attention.
Know where the following are located before directing a heavy truck across the property:
- Septic tank
- Septic field
- Well
- Drainage tile
- Irrigation
- Underground utilities
- Culverts
The delivery route can be just as important as the final placement location.
Before Delivery: Quick Site Checklist
Before your container arrives, walk through this checklist:
- Choose the exact placement location
- Determine which direction the doors should face
- Make sure the site is reasonably level
- Provide stable support and adequate drainage
- Check the entire truck route
- Look for soft or wet ground
- Measure gates and narrow access points
- Check overhead wires and branches
- Identify septic systems and underground hazards
- Move vehicles, trailers, equipment, and other obstacles
- Send photos if you’re unsure about access
Not Sure Whether We Can Deliver to Your Location?
Ask us before you start changing your property.
Send Level 7 Containers your delivery ZIP code along with photos or video of the driveway, delivery route, and proposed placement location.
We can review the site and help identify potential access concerns before scheduling delivery.
Our goal isn’t simply to get a container to your address. It’s to help get the right container placed where you actually need it.
Ready for Your Container Delivery?
A successful container delivery starts with good planning. Checking access, overhead clearance, ground conditions, drainage, and placement before delivery can help prevent costly surprises.
Contact Level 7 Containers with your delivery ZIP code and site photos or video. We’ll help you understand the delivery requirements and identify potential concerns before your container arrives.
Plan the site. Prepare the access. We’ll handle the delivery.
