Delivery of a Cabin or Office Shipping Container

Thank you for choosing the Shipping Container Specialists to fabricate your Cabin Container, Office Container, or Modified Shipping Container! You may be asking yourself what is next or how to prepare for a seamless custom shipping container delivery?

We have combined our knowledge to provide 7 Easy, Yet Essential Steps to prepare for the delivery of your custom shipping container.



STEP 1: CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE

It is a good idea to contact your local code enforcement office prior to delivery of your shipping container to see if you will need to obtain a permit. In many cases, a permit will not be required as it is considered a temporary structure; however, a modified shipping container may require a permit. This is dependent on your property’s location, specifically if it is in a rural or urban area. However, codes vary from place to place, so be sure to check with your local government.

 

STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR DELIVERY SITE

There are 3 things to consider when choosing your delivery site:

1. Accessibility

2. Delivery Site Surface

3. Elevation

First, make sure your delivery site is easily accessible for the delivery driver to drop the shipping container off. A good rule of thumb is the area should be twice the length of the shipping container in a straight line. Your delivery driver will be driving either a 1-ton pickup truck or semi-truck with a 40' tilt-bed trailer, meaning they will need at least 130’ of space to drop the container at the selected location. Even if you purchase a 20’ shipping container, it will still be delivered on a 40’ tilt-bed trailer.

XCaliber’s Drivers will not deliver to areas that do not have improved roads that allow the trucks to maintain good traction. Additionally, if your desired delivery location is located south of I-10 in west Texas, including Marfa, Terlingua, Fort Davis, Marathon, and Alpine, your Sales Rep will need to verify that delivery can be made to your location. This is also true for areas in west New Mexico and east Oklahoma.

Now you need to assess if your delivery site can support the weight of a shipping container. A 20' shipping container weighs around 5,000 lbs. empty and a 40' shipping container weighs around 9,000 lbs. empty. You will need a solid delivery site to support at least a 9,000 lb. shipping container in addition to a delivery truck and that the site can support the shipping container's weight after dropping. If your planned delivery site is on bare ground, it will need to be solid to support the weight. Other ideal delivery site surfaces include concrete or gravel pads. Additionally, the roads or land leading up to where you will place the container need to be solid so the trucks can maintain traction and leave the property rut free. Driving through loose sand or mud is not an option for our drivers.

Avoid placing your shipping container in low-lying areas without adequate drainage, so it doesn't sink into the ground. If the container begins to fall, this will jeopardize the container's structural integrity, causing the doors not to function correctly and causing the sides to bend and flex.

 

STEP 3: PREPARE THE GROUND OR FOUNDATION

If the location you have chosen for your shipping container is already relatively flat and firm, then this step should be straightforward. First, you will need to remove any low-hanging branches, trees, or anything in the way. If you are laying a foundation such as cement, gravel, or pavement, be sure the surface area is level. If you do not have access to pavement, cement, or gravel, you can also use wood blocks, railroad ties, or mobile home pads to support your storage container at the four corners.

 

STEP 4: GETTING UTILITIES TO THE DELIVERY SITE

Electricity - First, you will need to contact a local electric company or cooperative to find out how to install an electric meter and get the electric hooked up. If there are already powerlines near your property, it should be possible to have the electrical service installed. The amount it will cost will depend on installing a new transformer, how far and how complicated it will be, and if the electrician will run it on poles or underground.

Plumbing - If the chosen location offers access to nearby sewer lines, you’ll need to determine the cost and process of tying in. A septic system is most likely your only option for most rural areas.

Water - There are three different options for hooking up the water. You can call the local water company and see the possibilities of running water lines to the chosen location. (Most rural areas offer access to a water supply.) If you can't get access, you will have to pay to drill a well or have an on-site tank where a water truck will refill with water once the supply is out.



Always make sure to clear anything that may be in the way of the driver delivering the shipping container. This means removing any overhanging materials, such as power lines and low-hanging tree limbs. The drivers need at least 10’ of width on each side of the container and 13’ of overhead clearance.  Also, consider any sharp turns that may be difficult for the driver to navigate. The driver will need at least 30’ of width to turn into any location and 10' to pull straight through. If there are obstacles that the driver needs to know of, do not hesitate to contact XCaliber’s Logistics team to ensure they can successfully deliver the shipping container.

 

If your modified shipping container includes entrance doors, such as a walk-through door or sliding door, you'll want to communicate with your Sales Specialist and XCaliber's logistics team which way you want the door(s) facing once the container is unloaded. This will ensure the container is loaded correctly prior to delivery.

 

STEP 7: AFTER DELIVERY

After delivery, you will want to make sure the container doors are level. If the doors are not level, they will be challenging to open. If you have chosen not to lay cement, pavement, or a gravel foundation, our drivers will have wooden blocks they can place underneath each corner to help level the container. XCaliber’s drivers will also ensure that all the doors open and close before they depart. If you have chosen to add additional modifications, such as an Awning or a Top Deck, you will need to have some extra hands to come and help set them up. Our drivers will stay and help set up the awning or top deck, but they need two additional people to help them do so. Our drivers do not set up or connect any utilities. XCaliber recommends that you have a licensed plumber and electrician come to hook up any connections for your safety.