So you finally got that brand-new shipping container. Once you've begun loading it full of storage materials and valuable cargo you’ve realized that you could've picked a better location. No, it's got to be better. So now what? How can I move this container?

In this article today, we will be addressing how you can move your shipping container a short distance on your own property or how you could move the shipping container to another piece of property all together.

What’s Involved With Moving A Shipping Container?

So how does one go about moving a shipping container you ask? Can you simply drag it from a place to another, or do you need to use heavy machinery? Well, it turns out there are several ways you can move these versatile containers depending on your budget, experience, or specific requirements.

Know The Weight Of Your Shipping Container

Before you decide on a method, you should consider the weight of any given shipping container. A standard 20 foot container will usually weigh over 5000 pounds, whereas a 40 foot container can easily weigh over 8200 pounds. Since these are very heavy, shipping containers are often transported with the help of a semi-truck or a flatbed trailer.

Using Heavy Machinery For Short Move or Loading Your Trailer

In general, you have two primary choices at your disposal; either with the use of a forklift or a crane.

Moving A Shipping Container With A Forklift

Some types of forklifts are able to lift a shipping container by itself, but this is not a job for your standard smaller forklift. Many of the smaller forklifts are either not strong enough to lift a shipping container outright or they aren’t wide enough to prevent buckling or damage to a shipping container.

Since the use of a forklift means putting all the weight of the container right on its center, this can easily cause an accident if the wrong type of forklift is used.

If you do end up using a forklift, make sure it is rated to lift at least 15,000 pounds. This will ensure that the forklift’s arms will be wide and sturdy enough to lift the container without damaging it.

Cranes Can Be Used But Require A Special License To Operate

A crane can also help you to save time since it's generally easier to place your shipping container onto a truck trailer or flatbed with a crane. A crane will require a special type of license to operate so unless you have one of these available for your job you'll like we need to hire someone to use the crane to lift everything for you. Consider both options carefully before deciding.

Moving Your Shipping Containers With A Transport Company

You can hire a transport company to move your shipping container for a do it yourself construction project. You could even hire a shipping container company themselves to deliver the container to a new location depending on its accessibility.

If you plan on using a transport company that specializes specifically in transport services from one place to another with a truck you'll need to ensure that they can handle the loading and unloading of a shipping container. Summer only handle the shipping container transport itself leaving you to figure out how to get the shipping container on and off the truck.

The majority of people will find it much easier just to hire a shipping container moving service. This is because it can take several hours just to get the container loaded up onto a moving truck and then onto the road.

The Takeaway

So what have we learned so far from this discussion?

It is possible to get your shipping container moved after it's already been delivered and set up at home or business. Depending on the type of move there are plenty of solutions available to get your shipping container moved from point A to point B.

Depending on the type of service, the distance the shipping container needs to be moved, and the amount of equipment needed to handle your specific container transport, the cost can vary quite a bit. So be sure to do your homework.

Try to have your container dropped in the exact spot you think works best. By not having to move it after the fact can save you a lot of time and money.