Moving a 40ft shipping container is a different job from moving a 20ft. At roughly twice the length, it needs more room to turn, a longer clear run at the final position and careful thought about the ground along its whole length. MOVER™ assesses 40ft moves on the site layout, the route and the ground, rather than assuming a lorry or crane can do the whole job.
If you need to move a 40ft container across a site, through restricted access or into a final position that a delivery vehicle cannot reach, start by telling us about the route and where the container needs to end up.
A 40ft container is long enough that the front and back can be on very different ground at the same time. A route that works for a 20ft container can become impractical once the extra length has to swing through a turn or clear a gatepost.
That is why a 40ft enquiry usually needs more detail up front: where the container is, where it is going, what is between those points and how it needs to sit when it arrives.
We do not publish a minimum clearance, because the answer depends on the route, the direction changes and what surrounds the final position. What we need from you is the information to work it out.
Not always, but sometimes. A crane can be the right choice where it can set up close enough and reach the final position. On sites where it cannot reach, or where buildings, trees or ground conditions get in the way, specialist ground-level positioning may handle part or all of the job.
We will be clear about which stages we can help with. If part of the job still needs lifting equipment, we will say so.
Restricted access is where 40ft moves most often get difficult. Tight bends, narrow entrances, kerbs, overhanging trees and parked vehicles all have a bigger effect on a longer unit.
Photographs taken from the entrance looking along the route, and from the final position looking back, help us understand how the container would need to travel.
Repositioning a 40ft container on an existing site is common in storage yards, retail sites and depots where layouts change. The move may be short, but the container often has to be aligned precisely alongside other units or buildings.
Because a 40ft container is long, changes in ground level along the route and at the final position matter. A slope, a soft patch or a change from hard standing to grass can affect how the move is approached and how the container sits at the end.
Tell us about the surfaces, any slopes and recent ground conditions. We will not promise suitability for every surface, but we will tell you what we think is realistic.
Rough measurements are fine to start with. If you are not sure, say so and we will ask the right questions.
Tell us what you’re moving, where it needs to go and what’s making the move difficult. We’ll review the details and help you work out the next step.
A longer unit needs a more careful look before anyone commits to a method.
Tell us about the container, the move and the site using the guide.
We work through the route, the turns, the ground and the final position, and ask for any missing measurements.
We explain what looks realistic, what would need a site visit and which stages we can cover.
MOVER™ regularly works on sites with restricted access, including 40ft moves. Whether your route is suitable depends on its widths, turns, height restrictions and ground, so we assess it before confirming a method.
There is no single figure. We need the widths of the narrow points, the space at each turn and the footprint at the final position. Rough measurements and photos are a good starting point.
It can be possible, depending on the ground condition, the weather and the route. Tell us what the surface is like and we will assess it. We do not promise that every grassed or soft area will be suitable.
Not necessarily. Where a crane cannot reach or set up safely, specialist on-site positioning may be an option for some or all of the job. Some jobs will still need lifting at certain stages, and we will tell you if that is the case.
MOVER™ is based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and works across Staffordshire and the Midlands. Our case studies also include projects further afield, so if your site is elsewhere in the UK, tell us where it is and we will let you know whether we can help.
Tell us where it is, where it needs to go and what is in the way. We will review the details and help you work out the next step. Use What do you need to move? to get started.
