Shipping Container FAQs Part 4: Ordering, Delivery Day, and What to Expect

Parts 1 through 3 of this series covered container types, grades, sizes, pricing factors, rent vs. buy, and maintenance. This installment focuses on the part of the process most buyers have the least information about before they go through it: what actually happens after you decide to buy — how ordering works, what delivery day looks like, and what to check before you sign off on your container.

These are the questions our team gets most often from first-time buyers, and the answers that prevent most of the friction that comes from buying without knowing what to expect.

Q21: How Does the Ordering Process Work at YES Containers?

The process is more straightforward than most buyers expect. You don't need to visit a depot or inspect a specific unit before ordering — the vast majority of YES Containers purchases happen remotely, with delivery to your property.

The typical sequence:

1. Get a quote. You provide your ZIP code, the container size and grade you want, and any access details about your site. We source from the nearest depot and give you a price that includes the unit and delivery — no hidden extras.
2. Review and confirm. You review the fully delivered price and confirm the order. Payment options include credit card, debit card, PayPal, and ACH/wire transfer. You can also use Pay on Invoice to lock your price for seven days if your site isn't ready yet.
3. Delivery scheduling. We coordinate with you on a delivery window. Standard lead time is approximately 5–10 business days from most depots. If you need faster, ask about rush delivery options.
4. Delivery day. A tilt-bed truck arrives, positions the container, and slides it off the deck onto your prepared site. Most deliveries take under 30 minutes once the truck is on-site.

The full ordering process guide covers each step in detail, including how nationwide inventory works and how we source from the depot closest to your ZIP code.

Q22: What Is Pay on Delivery, and How Does It Work?

Pay on Delivery (POD) means you complete final payment after the container is delivered and you've had a chance to inspect it on-site — rather than paying in full upfront. It's designed for buyers who want to verify the container's condition before releasing payment, particularly when purchasing used containers without seeing the specific unit in advance.

How the inspection works: when the delivery truck arrives, the driver places the container at your site. You inspect the exterior and interior — roof, walls, floor, door seals, hardware — before confirming payment. If there's a significant discrepancy from what was ordered, you have recourse before the driver leaves.

POD is available to eligible buyers — eligibility is confirmed when you schedule delivery. If POD matters to your purchasing process, mention it when requesting your quote so the team can confirm availability for your specific order. For a full walkthrough, see how Pay on Delivery works.

Q23: What Should I Check When My Container Is Delivered?

This is one of the most important questions in the series, because what you catch at delivery is far easier to address than what you discover two weeks later. The delivery inspection takes five minutes and can save you significant time and cost.

Work through this checklist before the driver leaves:

• Roof. Look for dents deep enough to pool water, separation at the seams, or any punctures. A flashlight inside with the doors closed will show any light coming through the roof — light means water can get in.
• Walls and floor. Check for penetrations — holes punched through the corrugated steel from forklifts or impact. Small surface rust is normal on used containers; holes are not.
• Door seals and hardware. Open and close both doors. They should swing freely and seal cleanly when closed. Inspect the rubber gaskets around the door perimeter — they should be continuous with no cracking, tears, or missing sections. Degraded gaskets are the most common source of moisture intrusion.
• Locking rods. The vertical cam-lock rods should rotate fully and engage the keeper brackets cleanly. Bent or stiff rods are a sign of prior door frame damage.
• Floor condition. Walk the full length of the floor. Marine plywood floors should feel solid underfoot. Soft spots indicate rot or delamination, typically caused by moisture intrusion from a compromised roof or door seal on a prior assignment.
• Interior odor. A strong chemical odor can indicate prior cargo that requires remediation before use, particularly relevant if you're planning human occupancy or food-adjacent storage.

The full delivery inspection guide is at Inspection at Delivery. If you're buying used and want to know what common issues look like before you receive your container, the used container inspection guide covers each failure point in detail.

Q24: How Do I Prepare My Site for Container Delivery?

Site preparation is the variable buyers most often underestimate. The container and delivery are straightforward — getting the container placed exactly where you need it without complications requires a few things to be sorted in advance.

The delivery truck is a tilt-bed that needs a clear, straight approach of approximately 80–120 feet to slide the container off the deck. The surface needs to support the truck's weight — compacted gravel, asphalt, or concrete all work; soft or waterlogged ground can bog the truck down.

Before your delivery:

• Measure your access path — length, width (12 feet minimum), and overhead clearances for tree branches and utility lines
• Identify and clear any obstacles on the approach route and at the placement area
• Decide door orientation before the truck arrives — changing it after placement requires the driver to reposition
• Prepare the placement surface — corner blocks, railroad ties, or a gravel pad prevent uneven settling and keep the container floor drier
• If you won't be on-site, mark the placement location clearly with stakes or spray paint

The complete site prep checklist is at Prepare for Container Delivery.

Q25: What Is the Difference Between Container Delivery and Container Pickup?

These are two different services that buyers sometimes confuse:

Container delivery is when YES Containers brings a container from a depot to your property. The delivery truck places it at your site using the tilt-bed mechanism. This is how almost all container purchases work.

Container pickup (also called pick-up service) is when we come to your property and remove a container — either because you want it relocated, the project is complete, or you're selling it back. This is also how relocation works when you want to move a container from one site to another.

Some buyers also choose to arrange their own transport through our pick-up service — collecting the container from the depot themselves rather than having it delivered. This is more common for buyers with access to appropriate transport equipment or who are sourcing from a depot they can reach efficiently.

Q26: Can I Lock In My Price If My Site Isn't Ready Yet?

Yes. If you've confirmed the container you want but your site isn't ready for delivery — permits pending, ground prep in progress, project hasn't started — you can use Pay on Invoice to lock your price for seven days while finalizing delivery timing. This protects you against price movement or inventory changes during that window.

For longer holds, speak with the team directly when requesting your quote — arrangements beyond the standard lock period depend on current inventory and depot conditions.

Q27: Does YES Containers Offer Warranties?

YES Containers offers optional warranty coverage on containers. Warranty terms vary by container grade and condition — new one-trip containers typically qualify for stronger coverage than used WWT units. The warranty covers weather-tightness performance: if a warranted container leaks under normal conditions within the coverage period, we address it.

For full warranty terms and what's covered, see the warranty information page. If warranty coverage is important to your purchasing decision, ask about it specifically when requesting your quote.

Q28: What Discounts Are Available, and Do They Stack?

YES Containers offers several discount programs. The ones most relevant for buyers reading this FAQ series:

• Bulk purchase discount — applies when ordering multiple containers at once. The more units, the better the per-unit pricing.
• Two-container same-delivery discount — when two containers ship to the same location on a single truck run, delivery cost is shared. Two 20ft containers fit on one tilt-bed, which makes this particularly relevant if you're buying two 20ft units for the same site or two nearby sites.
• Military discount and first responder discount — available to eligible buyers.
• Returning customer discount — for buyers who've purchased before.

These discounts stack with each other where applicable — a bulk order by a returning customer who qualifies for a first responder discount, for example, can combine all applicable savings. Mention any programs you qualify for when requesting your quote.

For any questions not covered here, call 800-223-4755 or request a quote online. The full FAQ series continues in Part 5 and Part 6.