Site access guide
A container truck is big, heavy and needs room to work. Use this guide to check your site will take a delivery before the day, so it goes smoothly the first time.
Straight approach for a tilt-deck drop
Overhead clearance, clear of lines and branches
Gateways and the truck's path in
Four things every site needs
Get these right and delivery is quick. If your site is short on any of them, that is usually a sign you will need a crane truck rather than a tilt-deck, so tell us when you book.
A clear, straight approach
The truck needs to drive in on a straight line, reverse and line up with the placement spot. Clear vehicles, bins and anything moveable from the path well before we arrive.
Firm, level ground
Both the driving path and the drop spot need to hold a heavy truck without bogging, and be level enough to set the container down square.
Enough overhead room
Around 4.5 metres of clear height over the whole path and the placement spot - no low power lines, branches or eaves in the way.
Width to get through
Gateways, driveways and corners need at least 3.5 metres of width. Tight entries are the most common reason a tilt-deck cannot get in.
Space needed by container size
These are the straight, clear run-in lengths a tilt-deck needs to slide a container off. Add height clearance of about 4.5 metres above the whole path, and width of at least 3.5 metres.
Short on space? A HIAB crane truck can place a container into a much tighter footprint, as long as there is clear sky above the spot.
Guide figures for a tilt-deck delivery. Every site is different, so we confirm requirements when you book.
Ground conditions
A loaded truck is heavy. It needs firm ground both to drive on and to set the container down level.
Concrete, sealed, compacted gravel or hard-packed dirt
Reasonably level, or a gentle slope we can pack level
Soft lawn, boggy or waterlogged ground after rain
Fresh fill or unstable surfaces a truck could sink into
Overhead & obstacles
Look up as well as around. Anything above the path or the placement spot can stop a delivery.
Power, phone and internet lines crossing the site
Overhanging trees, branches and building eaves
Narrow gates, tight corners and parked vehicles
Soft edges, drains, culverts and retaining walls
Send us photos and we will check for you
If you are unsure whether your site will take a delivery, the easiest thing is to show us. Snap a few photos when you request your quote and our team will tell you what is possible and which truck to use.
Helpful photos to send
The gateway or entrance the truck would come through
The full path from the road to the placement spot
The spot itself, and the ground around it
Anything overhead - lines, trees or eaves near the path
Site access questions
It happens, and it is not a dead end. A HIAB crane truck can lift a container over fences and obstacles into a much tighter spot. If even that will not reach, we can look at a smaller container, a different placement, or dropping it at the boundary. Send us photos and we will find a way.
With a crane truck, often yes - provided there is clear space above for the crane to swing and lower the container, and the truck can park close enough. Overhead power lines are the usual limit, so flag those early.
A gentle slope is usually fine - we can pack timber under the corners to sit the container level. Steep or uneven ground is harder and may need a crane placement. Let us know and send a photo so we can advise.
For a standard delivery onto private property, generally not. If the truck needs to block a road or footpath, or your site has unusual access, we will let you know if anything extra is required when we plan the drop.
For storage, close to level is plenty and we can adjust with packing. If you are fitting it out as an office, sleepout or anything with doors and drainage, a properly level base matters more - we will talk through foundations when you order.
Still not sure your site will work?
Give us a call. We deliver containers every day and we have seen every kind of site, so we will help you sort access before you commit.
