Shipping Containers Buyers Guide

Shipping containers come in a wide variety of sizes, colours, and grade qualities but they all have one thing in common. They are built using corten steel and must meet international strength and durability standards also known as ISO and be equipped with a CSC plate issued by the International Convention for Safe Containers. Below you will find the most common sizes and specifications for shipping containers we carry including 20-foot standard height, 20-foot high cube, 40-foot standard height, and 40-foot high cube. Please visit our online shipping container store page to view our current selection of new and used shipping containers available for purchase in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

The most common and cost effective method for delivering shipping containers is via flat-deck tilt-bed truck or trailer.  In order to be able to accept this delivery method, you will need a minimum of 60 linear feet of clearance to deliver a 20 foot container and 100 linear feet of clearance to deliver a 40′ container.

It’s also very important to consider height. Any low hanging tree branches, wires or overhangs  must be a minimum of 14 feet for regular height containers or 16 feet for high cubes. Tilt-deck trailers also must have no height restrictions at the point of offload.

The vast majority of our deliveries are done using a tilt-deck flat-bed truck or trailer. These have the agility and ability to place your storage container on ground where you need as long as they have the appropriate clearance to back in slide it off the back. 

Shipping containers occasionally require the assistance of a crane truck or crane to offload. In the event that you have access to a heavy duty forklift, this can save you money on the delivery as well. 

The most important thing to worry about when receiving a container is that the surface is level, smooth and firm. Unlevelled terrain can lead to your container twisting that will result in pinched hinges and doors that are difficult to open. Our recommended surface is compact gravel or asphalt with concrete pavers to raise the container off the ground a couple inches.

Ottawa Shipping Containers offers a flexible list of options when it comes to payment. We are happy to accept VISA, Mastercard, Paypal, e-transfers or money wires at no extra cost. Whether you purchase a container from us or anywhere else, please do be cautious about paying in advance. We highly recommend using a platform or payment method that offers the ability to charge back a transaction in the event of fraud. VISA or PayPal are great for this. 

Unlike many of our competitors, we sell containers that we own and that means you get to not only choose the colour of your container but you get to pick the exact container you are purchasing from the current inventory listed here in our online shipping container store. New or used, you get the exact container you want rather than just getting a “top of rack” surprise container. 

Absolutely! Scams and fraud are a huge problem in the shipping container industry.  In 2021, CBC reported a group of people who lost as much as $70,000 on shipping container scams.

A couple of general rules of thumb to prevent shipping container fraud:

1. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Get a sense of the going rates for shipping containers in your area.
2. Never pay for your container in advance via e-transfer without knowing exactly who you are sending funds to. All of our e-transfer sales go directly to our official support email, hi@ottawashippingcontainers.ca.
3. If possible, pay with credit card, Paypal, EFT wire, or another form of payment that offers protection in the form of chargebacks or refunds in the event of fraud.