Shipping Container Delivery
Container Traders has a network of trusted freight operators to complete delivery of our shipping containers to sites right across Australia. We believe in supporting local business and it is for this reason that we subcontract our container deliveries out to local transport operators. This results in us always having the local area knowledge when delivering containers and allows us to stay personally connected with our customers and their communities.
Once we find the perfect container for your requirements, we will work with you to assess the most appropriate, efficient, cost effective and safest mode of transport for your site. Delivery can usually be arranged within 24-48 hours of received payment.
Call us on 1300 89 89 70Get A Quote
Shipping Container Delivery Costs
Delivery cost is dependent on distance/time to travel and urgency
When calculating the cost for delivery our team will ask information to determine how far the container needs to travel and how quickly you require your container.
We always look for the most economical options for our customers and will seek cheaper freighting where possible, including backloads if there is not an urgency for a quick delivery date. Delivery costs will be incorporated into your quote unless you indicate you wish to pick up your shipping container directly.
Indication of delivery costs
Inner metro areas within 30km from a capital city port (approximate costs):
Tilt Tray standard 20' Delivery: from $240 + GST
Side Loader / HIAB / Super Tilt 20' and 40' Delivery: from $390 + GST
Distance based / regional delivery (approximate costs):
Tilt Tray standard 20' Delivery: from $4.50 per kilometre + GST
Side Loader / HIAB / Super Tilt 20' and 40' Delivery: from $5.90 per kilometre + GST
If you have any questions about the above information, or any concerns regarding your site, give our skilled friendly team a call on 1300 89 89 70 today.
We've got the right truck for your container and site
Delivery method is dependent on your property conditions, container type and truck availability.
Container Traders will guide you through each step of the shipping container delivery process and incorporate the cost into your quotation. We will work with you to assess the most appropriate, efficient, cost-effective and safest mode of transport for your site. For your interest, the various site delivery methods we use are outlined below.
Tilt Tray
Tilt Tray
The most used delivery method for 10’ and 20’ containers, tilt trays offload your container from the rear of the truck, tilting the tray upwards and sliding the Shipping Container from the rear of the vehicle. The ground will need to be a flat surface. When the driver loads the container, it is important that you ensure you have told your Container Traders team member which way the container doors will need to face when our forklift operator loads the container on the truck.
Super Tilt trays can handle 40’ containers and are also used where appropriate. Tilt Trays can also carry trailers which will allow transportation of 2 x 20 foot containers in one trip.
Container Size
3m / 10’ or 6m / 20’ or 12m / 40’
Height (when driving)
4.6m / 15.1ft
Height (when unloading)
5m / 16ft or 6m / 20ft
Width
3.5m / 11.5ft
Length
20m / 65ft or 40M / 131ft
Side Loader
Side Loader
A side loader is a semi-trailer which uses a swing lift at either end of the trailer, or tray to pick up, using the containers strong robust corner casts to offload.
Container Traders usually use side loaders for 40’ shipping container deliveries or where there is limited space either in front of or behind the truck.
Side loaders are generally a more expensive delivery option than a tilt tray.
Shipping Container Size
3m / 10’ or 6m / 20’ or 12m / 40’
Height (when driving)
4.6m / 15.1ft
Height (when unloading)
10m / 33ft
Width (when driving)
3.5m / 11.5ft
Width (when unloading)
6m / 20ft
Length
16M / 53ft
HIAB
HIAB
Hiab's are trucks fitted with a crane on either the front or the rear of the truck which allows them to pick up a container and precisely place it in spaces not usually accessible with other modes of transport.
Hiab's provide the ability to lift a container over small obstacles like low fences and can accommodate all shipping containers including 10', 20'; and 40' containers. There are however weight limits to be considered with this delivery method.
Container Traders generally opt for Tilt Tray or Side Loader delivery if possible due to the higher cost of Hiabs.
Container Size
3m / 10’ or 6m / 20’ or 12m / 40’
Height (when driving)
4.6m / 15.1ft
Height (when unloading)
10m / 33ft
Width
3.5m / 11.5ft
Length
18M / 53ft
Flatbed / Semi Trailer
Flatbed / Semi Trailer
Flat bed trucks are the most readily available across Australia and can be the cheapest delivery method.
A flat bed truck requires a forklift or crane at the point of delivery to unload the shipping container from the truck.
We can arrange flat bed delivery for customers that can unload the container at the site. For longer delivery distances it may be more economical for a flat bed truck to complete the bulk of the journey, switching to a tilt try, side loader or hiab to complete the local delivery leg if a crane is not available on site.
Container Size
3m / 10’ or 6m / 20’ or 12m / 40’
Height (when driving)
4.6m / 15.1ft
Height (when unloading)
10m / 33ft
Width
3.5m / 11.5ft
Length
18M / 53ft
Getting Ready for Delivery
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Container placement
Lay down area
The pad for your container needs to be level and dry. If the container is not level the container doors will be very difficult to operate. To safely deliver a container with any type of truck we require level access and a safe, level area to lay the container down. The surface needs to be firm. Concrete, and hard stand are best, but gravel and blue rock are fine assuming they are level.
Container footings
It is important to have air flow under the container to avoid moisture and condensation build up. Footings are not necessarily required if you are able to provide a raised, hard stand, dry area for the container to be delivered onto. If this isn’t possible we strongly suggest the use of footings to keep the container raised off the ground. The best footings are treated hard wood timber (railway sleepers from your local nursery will do the trick), you can also use concrete blocks or car tyres.
We are able to deliver containers on grass, but only if the grass is shortened and area is really dry and firm. When placing a container on grass we strongly recommended the use of small treated timber blocks, besser blocks and even used rubber tyres.
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Clear delivery path
Obstructions
Safety is a priority for Container Traders. Obstructions such as vegetation, fences, power lines, walls and inground structures can impede the delivery process and present safety issues. We will guide you through questions around your site conditions and obstruction mitigations to determine the best and safest delivery method to match your site requirements.
Ground conditions
Trucks are heavy. Trucks with containers on the back are even heavier. It is critical the driver is provided with dry, firm level access in and out of your site. Ideally sealed or hardstand (compacted) roads. If this is not available, it is up to you to inform us at time of enquiry. If the truck gets bogged or sinks on your site recovery costs will be the liability of the customer. Heavy rain and wet weather can delay your delivery so best to let us know as soon as possible if your area experiences heavy rain when delivery is due.
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Delays and cancellations
On site time allowances
Our quoted costs include unloading time on site to a maximum of 30 minutes. This time allowance is more than enough for standard deliveries. Site delays beyond this time allocation will result in an excess charge. Our drivers will advise should a time overrun look likely during delivery.
Cancellations / Changes to deliver time
We can arrange changes to your delivery arrangements without charge if given enough notice – usually at least 24 hours before delivery is scheduled. Once the truck has left to collect the container from the depot, changes to the delivery schedule will result in extra fees. If you need to change the delivery date, for example due to poor weather, we ask that you contact us as soon as possible.
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Have any questions?
We're here to help
Get in contact with any questions or concerns regarding delivery of your shipping container. Our friendly staff will guide you through determining what transport is suitable for your site conditions and container placement.
Clearance Levels Summary
Truck | Containers | Clearance | Suited for |
---|---|---|---|
Tilt Tray | 10’, 20’ | Height (when driving): 4.6m / 15.1ft Height (when unloading): 5m / 16ft Length: 20m / 65ft Width: 3.5m / 11.5ft | Standard deliveries |
Super Tilt Tray | 40' | Height (when driving): 4.6m / 15.1ft Height (when unloading): 6m / 20ft Length: 40m / 131ft Width: 3.5m / 11.5ft | Non-standard deliveries that require Super Tilt (where Side Loader / HIAB is not suitable). |
Flatbed / Semi-trailer | 10’, 20’, 40’ | Height: 4.6m / 15.1ft | Standard deliveries where customer has forklift/crane to unload |
Side Loader | 10’, 20’, 40’ | Height (when driving): 4.6m / 15.1ft Height (when unloading): 10m / 33ft Length: 16m / 53ft Width (when driving): 3.5m / 11.5ft Width (when unloading) 6m / 20ft | Default for 40' and hard to access spaces |
Hiab | 10’, 20’, 40' | Height (when driving): 4.6m / 15.1ft Height (when unloading): 10m / 33ft Length: 18m / 60ft Width: 3.5m / 11.5ft | Hard to access / space restricted sites / lifting over objects |
Container placement
Level surface is paramount. To safely deliver a container with any type of truck we require level access and a safe, level area to lay the container down. The surface needs to be firm. Concrete, and hard stand are best, but gravel and blue rock are fine assuming they are level.
We can deliver containers on grass, but only if the grass is shortened and area is very dry and firm.
When placing a container on grass we strongly recommended the use of small, treated timber blocks, besser blocks and even used rubber tyres.
To allow airflow and ventilation under the container a raised height of at least 5cm if recommended.
The below examples show where shipping container placement on your property may change the type of truck you may need for delivery.
Limited room in front / behind the landing pad
When there is limited space for trucks to drop a box from sliding off the rear of the tray, a Side Loader can be used to lift the box from the driver’s side of the truck and place it next to the truck location.
Angled placement or obstructions to lift over
When the shipping container needs to be placed on an angle or raised over obstructions, a HIAB can be used to lift the box utilising a crane on the truck to place the container on the landing pad.
Accessible space in front or behind container placement
If there is enough accessible space, a Tilt Tray can be used to place the container. In this example the client has chosen a different placement of the shipping container landing pad so that there is enough room in front of the placement for a truck to drive forward.
Direction of doors
It is important to think about what way the doors will be facing when unloaded, which will dictate what way the doors should face when loading onto the truck.
Our friendly staff will assist you in determining what way the doors should face when loading. Depending on the truck type, the shipping container doors will need to be facing the driver's cabin or the rear of the truck.
Pay special consideration if you expect the truck will need to reverse in to place the container.
Side loader trucks unload from the driver's side only. This means that when placed the doors will face the same direction as the front of the truck. Doors to rear will result in the doors facing away from the front of the truck.
Tilt tray tracks can only unload in by sliding off the tray. When the doors face to the cabin, the doors touch the ground last and will face the direction that the truck is driving. Alternatively, with doors facing to rear, the doors will touch the ground first and face the opposite way to the truck driving.
HIAB trucks have a crane arm and are able to change direction of the container. It is still important to indicate doors to cabin or doors to rear in this instance to allow efficient unloading.