Hiring a shipping container is simple. A standard shipping container for hire may come in 20 foot and 40 foot sizes, with high cube dimensions available. These new or used steel containers resist both wind and water, as well as other weather conditions along route to your new location. Expert shippers will assist in packing and loading the container and here are some tips to make both your job and the shipper’s job easier.
Preparing Your Boxes for Loading
Before the shipping container company you hire comes to load and transport your belongings, it’s your responsibility to pack up the house or properly so they can pack the container more efficiently. Use some of the following tips:
- Use new cardboard boxes if possible. Make sure they’re sturdy.
- Use foam pieces or bubble wrap or even old towels to cushion fragile items like china or photo frames.
- Fill your boxes full, adding extra padding if needed.
- Seal your boxes with strong adhesive tape and mark the contents of each box and the number of the box, such as 2 of 18.
- Keep a running list of the inventory of your items and boxes.
- Consider covering your furniture or electronics with plastic tarps to eliminate damage or scrapes during transport.
What Shippers Must Pay Attention to When Packing and Loading
On the day of your move, professional shippers will pack your boxes and other belongings onto the container and then load it onto the truck. While many shippers have been in the business for years, here are some basic guidelines all of them follow.
Distribute the weight of your packed boxes and other furniture evenly throughout the container. They know that a 20 foot standard container can hold up to 24,000 kilograms including the weight of the container and a 40 foot container holds around 30,000 kilograms, and it imperative not to exceed these amounts.
Use all of the space in the container while packing everything in. The tighter they pack the things in, the less likely any damage will happen. A good place to start is by building a layer of boxes evenly across the floor, making sure they are sturdy items that will not break, like a box of books or a toolbox. In addition, stack some boxes in the corner to surround and protect your furniture, as well cover wooden furniture with blankets. If they need too, they’ll add more cushion like extra bedding, or padding so the container is full and secure. It’s also important that they don’t pack your belongings straight up to the container door and that they use the container gate instead.
Pay attention to varying weights and properties when loading your items. They must consider the density and other properties like if you packed liquids or solids. As noted, they always begin with a level row of boxes with the heaviest boxes first, and save the last row for boxes of fragile items like your china. In addition, they keep high-density items clumped together and low-density ones clumped together. If you back any liquid materials like unopened paint cans, those must be loaded on the first level in case of a small leak, and they mustn’t contain hazardous materials. After they load everything up, they will secure it down with ropes and clamps to make sure it doesn’t move.
Are you moving soon or relocating your business? We have both standard 20 foot and 40 foot shipping containers at a reasonable price, as well as high cube ones if you need to transport more items. Call us for an estimate.
