Learn
Portable storage glossary
220 terms from the container yard, the delivery truck and the trade show floor, defined in plain English with a source for each.
220 terms
#
- 10 ft containerA 10 ft container is a steel box about 10 feet long.
- 12 ft containerA 12 ft container is a steel or modular storage box about 12 feet long.
- 12 gauge steel12 gauge steel is steel sheet about 0.1046 inch (2.66 mm) thick on the standard steel gauge scale.
- 14 gauge steel14 gauge steel is steel sheet about 0.0747 inch (1.9 mm) thick on the standard steel gauge scale.
- 16 ft containerA 16 ft container is a storage box about 16 feet long.
- 20 ft containerA 20 ft container is the standard short ISO shipping container.
- 40 ft containerA 40 ft container is a long ISO shipping container, 40 feet long and 8 feet wide.
- 45 ft containerA 45 ft container is a shipping container 45 feet long and 8 feet wide.
- 53 ft containerA 53 ft container is a very long container used for domestic freight in North America.
- 8 ft containerAn 8 ft container is a small steel storage container about 8 feet long.
A
- advocacyAdvocacy is work to represent an industry's interests to lawmakers and regulators, and to speak for it in public.
- annual vehicle inspectionAn annual vehicle inspection is a periodic inspection of a commercial motor vehicle.
- Approved Continuous Examination Program (ACEP)An Approved Continuous Examination Program is one of two container safety examination schemes allowed under the CSC.
- Associate memberAn associate member of NPSA is a company or group that provides product, financial, legal or other services or support to the portable storage industry and is not eligible to be a Regular member.
- attendee badgeAn attendee badge is the name tag a person wears at a conference or trade show to show that they are registered.
B
- bailmentA bailment is a transfer of possession of property without a transfer of ownership.
- best practicesBest practices are methods that an industry agrees work well and are safe, legal and efficient, and that members can copy and teach.
- bottom side railA bottom side rail is the long steel beam along the lower edge of each side of a container.
C
- call for speakersA call for speakers is an open request for people to propose talks for an event.
- cam keeperA cam keeper is a steel bracket on the top and bottom of a container door frame.
- cargo doorA cargo door is one of the two hinged steel doors at the end of a standard shipping container.
- cargo insuranceCargo insurance protects goods that a carrier hauls for others.
- cargo worthy (CW)Cargo worthy is a trade term for a used container that is sound enough to carry cargo by sea.
- CDLA CDL is a commercial driver's license, required to drive certain commercial motor vehicles.
- certificate of insuranceA certificate of insurance is a document that summarizes an insurance policy and gives proof of coverage.
- chassisA chassis is a skeletal semi-trailer built to carry a container.
- Class A CDLA Class A CDL is the commercial license for combination vehicles.
- Class B CDLA Class B CDL is the commercial license for heavy straight vehicles.
- climate controlled storageClimate-controlled storage is indoor storage built to hold a more even temperature, and sometimes humidity, than an ordinary unit.
- code of conductA code of conduct is a set of rules for how people must behave at an event or in a group.
- commercial auto insuranceCommercial auto insurance covers motor vehicles that a business owns or uses.
- community forumThe NPSA Community Forum is a members-only online discussion board where portable storage companies ask questions and share information with peers.
- compacted baseA compacted base is a layer of soil or crushed stone that has been pressed down so it is firm and stable.
- conex boxA Conex box is a cargo container type first built for the U.S.
- conference and trade showA conference and trade show is an event that combines education sessions with an exhibit hall where suppliers show products.
- container condition reportA container condition report is a written record of a container's condition at one point in time.
- container forkliftA container forklift is a forklift used to lift or load containers.
- container HVACContainer HVAC is a heating, cooling and ventilation system fitted to a shipping container.
- container inspectionA container inspection is a check of a container's outside, inside, doors, floor and roof for damage, leaks and wear.
- container insulationContainer insulation is material added to the walls, roof and floor of a shipping container to slow heat flow and reduce condensation.
- container jackA container jack is a portable lifting device that raises one end or corner of a container.
- container modificationA container modification is a change made to a standard shipping container.
- container officeA container office is an office made from a shipping or storage container.
- container repairContainer repair is work that fixes damage to a container, such as holes, dents, floors and doors.
- container shuttleA container shuttle is a short trip that moves a container from one point to another nearby, such as from a yard to a job site, from one address to another, or from a customer site to a storage center.
- container surveyA container survey is a formal inspection of a container by a qualified surveyor, with a written result.
- container yardA container yard is an area where shipping containers are stored, staged and moved between trucks, rail and ships.
- contents coverageContents coverage is protection for the items stored inside a container.
- corner castingA corner casting is a cast steel fitting at each corner of a container.
- corner postA corner post is a vertical steel member at each corner of a container.
- corrugated steelCorrugated steel is sheet steel pressed into a pattern of ridges and valleys.
- corten steelCorten steel is a weathering steel alloy used for the walls and roof of most standard shipping containers.
- crane truckA crane truck is a truck with a crane mounted on the bed or chassis.
- cross memberA cross member is a steel beam that runs across the width of a container floor.
- CSC plateA CSC plate is a metal safety approval plate fixed to a freight container under the International Convention for Safe Containers.
- CSC safety approval plateA CSC safety approval plate is the plate that the International Convention for Safe Containers requires on approved containers.
D
- damage waiverA damage waiver is an optional fee in a rental agreement that limits what the renter owes if the rented unit is damaged.
- delivery accessDelivery access is the space and route a truck needs to reach the drop spot.
- delivery feeA delivery fee is a charge for bringing a container to the customer's site.
- depotA depot is a facility where empty shipping containers are stored and returned.
- depreciationDepreciation is an annual income tax deduction that lets a business recover the cost of property over the time it uses the property.
- door gasketA door gasket is the rubber seal around the cargo door opening of a container.
- door locking barA door locking bar is a vertical steel rod on a container door.
- door openingDoor opening is the width and height of the clear opening when a container's doors are open.
- DOT medical cardA DOT medical card is the common name for the Medical Examiner's Certificate.
- DOT numberA DOT number is an identifier assigned to a company that operates commercial vehicles.
- double door containerA double door container has doors at both ends, so you can load or unload from either side.
- drive-up storageDrive-up storage is a self-storage unit on the ground level with an outside door, so a customer can park a vehicle next to or in front of it.
- drop deck trailerA drop deck trailer, often called a step deck, is a flatbed trailer with a lower rear deck.
- drop-off chargeA drop-off charge is a one-time fee for returning a leased container to a depot.
- drug and alcohol testingDrug and alcohol testing is the federal program that tests safety-sensitive transportation workers.
- dry van containerA dry van container is the standard enclosed freight container for general cargo that does not need refrigeration.
E
- educational sessionAn educational session is a talk, panel or workshop at an event that teaches attendees a skill or topic.
- electrical packageAn electrical package is a set of wiring, lighting, outlets and a panel installed in a container.
- electronic logging device (ELD)An electronic logging device, or ELD, is a device that connects to a vehicle engine.
- exhibit hallAn exhibit hall is the large room at a trade show where companies set up booths to show products and services to attendees.
- exhibitorAn exhibitor is a company that rents booth space at a trade show to show its products or services.
- external dimensionsExternal dimensions are the length, width and height of a container measured on the outside.
F
- fall networking seminarThe Fall Networking and Seminar is an NPSA event held in the fall, apart from the spring conference.
- finance leaseA finance lease is a lease that works much like financing the purchase of an asset.
- flat rack containerA flat rack container is a container with a strong floor and end structures but open sides and no roof.
- flatbed truckA flatbed truck has a flat, level bed with no sides or roof.
- fleet utilizationFleet utilization is the percentage of a fleet's available time that it spends on productive, revenue-generating work.
- floor treatmentFloor treatment is the chemical or coating treatment applied to a container's plywood floor.
- FMCSAFMCSA is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, an agency within the U.S.
- forklift pocketA forklift pocket is a slot in the bottom side rail of a container.
- forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU)A forty-foot equivalent unit is a unit of cargo capacity based on a 40-foot-long intermodal container.
G
- GCWRGCWR is gross combination weight rating.
- general liability insuranceGeneral liability insurance is business coverage for claims of injury or property damage to other people.
- general purpose containerA general purpose container is a totally enclosed container for general cargo.
- gravel padA gravel pad is a prepared base of crushed stone or gravel placed on the ground for a container to sit on.
- ground level officeA ground-level office is a mobile office that sits directly on the ground, usually a converted storage container, so that visitors can enter from the grade with no tall steps.
- guard shackA guard shack is a small building where a security guard or attendant works, usually at a gate or entrance.
- GVWRGVWR is gross vehicle weight rating.
H
- haspA hasp is a hinged metal strap with a slot.
- hiabHiab is a brand of truck-mounted loader cranes and is also used as a general name for them.
- high cube containerA high cube container is a container that is taller than standard, usually 9 feet 6 inches tall outside, compared with 8 feet 6 inches for a standard unit.
- HOA covenantAn HOA covenant is a rule in the recorded declaration of a homeowners association, often called CC&Rs for covenants, conditions and restrictions.
- hours of service (HOS)Hours of service are FMCSA rules on how long commercial drivers may be on duty and how much rest they need.
I
- ID plateAn ID plate is a metal plate fixed to a container with identifying and approval data.
- IICL 5IICL 5 is the common short name for the IICL Repair Manual for Steel Freight Containers, fifth edition.
- IICL 6IICL 6 is the common short name for the IICL Guide for Container Equipment Inspection, sixth edition, published in 2016.
- inland marine insuranceInland marine insurance is property coverage for items that move or sit away from a fixed location.
- Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL)The Institute of International Container Lessors is the trade association of the marine container leasing and chassis provider industry.
- insulated containerAn insulated container is a container with insulation on its walls and roof to slow heat transfer.
- intermodal containerAn intermodal container is a standardized, reusable container that can move between ships, trains and trucks without unloading the cargo.
- internal dimensionsInternal dimensions are the length, width and height of the usable space inside a container.
- International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC)The International Convention for Safe Containers is a 1972 treaty written by the International Maritime Organization and the United Nations.
- interstate commerceInterstate commerce is trade, traffic or transportation in the United States between a place in a state and a place outside that state.
- intrastate commerceIntrastate commerce is trade, traffic or transportation that begins and ends inside one state and stays within that state.
- ISO 1496ISO 1496 is a series of international standards for the specification and testing of series 1 freight containers.
- ISO 6346ISO 6346 is the international standard for coding, identification and marking of freight containers.
- ISO 668ISO 668 is the international standard that classifies series 1 freight containers by their external dimensions.
- ISO containerAn ISO container is a freight container built to the ISO series 1 standards, such as ISO 668 for classification and dimensions and ISO 1496 for specification and testing.
J
K
L
- lease-to-ownLease-to-own is a plan where a customer pays regular lease payments and may own the item at the end.
- level groundLevel ground is a flat, firm surface without noticeable slope or dips.
- Lifetime Achievement AwardThe Lifetime Achievement Award is an NPSA award for a person who has contributed a great deal to the portable storage industry and has left, or will leave, a legacy.
- light leak testA light leak test is a simple check for holes in a container.
- loading timeLoading time is the period a customer has to fill a portable storage container once it is delivered.
- local moveA local move is a move within the same area, usually the same city or region.
- lock boxA lock box is a steel housing that fits over a padlock on a container door.
- long distance moveA long distance move is a move to a distant city or another state.
M
- marine plywood floorA marine plywood floor is the wood floor in a shipping container, made of thick laminated plywood fixed to steel cross members.
- master leaseA master lease is a framework lease between a container owner and a lessee.
- maximum gross weightMaximum gross weight is the most a container may weigh when loaded, including its own tare weight and the cargo.
- MC numberAn MC number is a form of FMCSA operating authority.
- member directoryA member directory is a list of an association's member companies with contact details.
- mentorship programA mentorship program connects newer members of an association with experienced people.
- minimum rental termA minimum rental term is the shortest period a customer must pay for.
- mobile officeA mobile office is an office space that is built and finished off site, then delivered ready to use.
- mobile self-storageMobile self-storage is a service where an empty storage unit is delivered to your location.
- mobile storageMobile storage is storage that moves to the customer.
- mobile storage unitA mobile storage unit is a storage box built to be moved, delivered and picked up by truck.
- modular buildingA modular building is a building made in sections called modules in a factory, then moved to the site and joined together.
- moving containerA moving container is a portable storage container used to move a household.
N
- National Company memberA national company member is the NPSA Regular membership category for companies with 10 or more staffed locations.
- networking receptionA networking reception is a social event at a conference where attendees meet over food and drinks.
- NPSANPSA is the National Portable Storage Association, a trade association for the portable storage industry.
O
- off-hireOff-hire is the end of a container lease when the lessee returns the unit.
- off-site storageOff-site storage means keeping a portable storage container at the provider's facility instead of on the customer's property.
- office trailerAn office trailer is a mobile office built on a trailer-type frame and delivered by truck.
- on-hireOn-hire is the point when a lessee takes possession of a leased container.
- on-site storageOn-site storage means keeping a portable storage container on the customer's own property, such as a driveway or a job site.
- one-trip containerA one-trip container is a container that has made a single cargo voyage from the factory before being sold or rented.
- one-way moveA one-way move is a move in which a portable storage container is picked up at one location and delivered to a different one, such as a new home in another city.
- open top containerAn open top container is a container with a removable or open roof, so cargo can be loaded from above by crane or lift.
- operating leaseAn operating lease is a lease where the lessor lets the lessee use an asset for a set period, much like a typical rental.
- OSHAOSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, part of the U.S.
- overhead clearanceOverhead clearance is the free vertical space above a road or drop site.
- oversize permitAn oversize permit is a state-issued permit that lets a vehicle or load travel on public roads even though it exceeds legal size or weight limits.
P
- packing materialsPacking materials are the items used to protect goods for a move or for storage, such as boxes, tape, paper, bubble wrap, blankets and straps.
- patch repairA patch repair fixes a damaged container panel by welding a steel plate over the damage.
- payloadPayload is the weight of cargo a container can carry.
- per diemPer diem is Latin for "per day." In container leasing, it is the daily rate a lessee pays for each day a leased container is on-hire after any included free days.
- periodic examination schemeThe periodic examination scheme is one of two approved CSC ways to keep a container safe in service.
- permanent modular constructionPermanent modular construction, or PMC, is a way to build whole buildings in a factory as modules and join them on site, as a lasting part of the property.
- personnel doorA personnel door is a standard-size door cut into a container wall so people can walk in.
- pick-up chargeA pick-up charge is a fee for collecting a container.
- portable classroomA portable classroom is a classroom building that can be moved and placed on a school site.
- portable moving and storage (PMS)Portable moving and storage, or PMS, is the part of the portable storage industry that delivers containers to homes for moving and storage.
- portable storagePortable storage is storage in a container, trailer or similar unit that can be moved to the customer's site or elsewhere.
- Portable Storage AwardsThe NPSA Portable Storage Awards are yearly honors that NPSA gives to member companies and people in the portable storage industry.
- Portable Storage Company of the YearPortable Storage Company of the Year is an NPSA award for a Regular member company that has proven to be an overall standout in the portable storage, or portable storage and moving, industry.
- portable storage containerA portable storage container is a container made for rent or sale as movable storage.
- pre-trip inspectionA pre-trip inspection is the check a driver makes of a truck and trailer before driving.
R
- ramp doorA ramp door is a door that lets vehicles or equipment roll into a container or trailer.
- reach stackerA reach stacker is a vehicle that handles intermodal cargo containers in terminals and ports.
- reefer containerA reefer container is a refrigerated container with its own cooling unit and temperature controls.
- refrigerated trailerA refrigerated trailer, or reefer trailer, is an insulated trailer with a transport refrigeration unit.
- refurbished containerA refurbished container is a used container that has been repaired and cosmetically restored, usually with surface preparation and new paint.
- Regular memberA regular member of NPSA is a company engaged in the portable storage industry that is primarily engaged in renting, leasing or selling storage products to end users.
- relocatable buildingA relocatable building is a partly or fully assembled building made in a factory that is designed to be reused and moved to different sites.
- rent-to-ownRent-to-own is a plan where a customer pays rent on an item and gains ownership after enough payments.
- rental agreementA rental agreement is the contract that sets the terms for renting a container or similar unit.
- rental rateA rental rate is the price charged for keeping a container for a billing period, often a month.
- residual valueResidual value is an estimate of what an asset will be worth at a future point, often near the end of a lease or its useful life.
- right-of-way permitA right-of-way permit is local government permission to use public right-of-way, such as a street or the grass strip between the curb and sidewalk.
- roll-off truckA roll-off truck is a truck with a cable hoist and tilting rails that pulls a container or dumpster onto its frame and rolls it off.
- roll-up doorA roll-up door is a garage-style overhead door fitted in a container.
S
- sea canSea can is an informal name for a shipping container, mainly used in Canada.
- security depositA security deposit is money a renter pays at the start of a rental.
- self-storage facilityA self-storage facility is a business that rents secure space where customers store and retrieve their own goods.
- semi-trailerA semi-trailer is a trailer built so that part of its weight rests on the truck that pulls it.
- setbackA setback is the area between a property line and a building or structure where building is not allowed.
- shipping containerA shipping container is a standardized steel box used to move freight by ship, rail and truck without unloading the goods.
- side door containerA side door container, also called an open side or side access container, has doors along the long side as well as at the end.
- side loaderA side loader is a trailer with two lifting arms that picks up a container, carries it and sets it on the ground or on another trailer.
- site officeA site office is a temporary office placed on a work site, most often a construction site.
- site preparationSite preparation is the work done on a spot before a container arrives.
- skidA skid is a steel runner or base fitted to a container so it can be towed, dragged or slid across a yard.
- sponsorA sponsor is a company that pays to support an event or an association program in return for brand exposure.
- spot leaseA spot lease is a short-term lease priced to current market conditions.
- standard containerA standard container is a regular-height dry container, usually 8 feet 6 inches tall outside, as opposed to a high cube.
- storage centerA storage center is a secure site where a portable storage company keeps customer containers off the customer's property.
- storage containerA storage container is a container used to store goods, often a retired shipping container, that sits on a site and keeps items dry and secure.
- storage trailerA storage trailer is a trailer used as a movable storage space instead of for hauling cargo from place to place.
- storage unitA storage unit is a rented space for keeping personal or business goods.
- Supplier of the YearSupplier of the Year is an NPSA award for an Associate member company that has stood out as a supplier of products or services to the portable storage industry.
T
- tag trailerA tag trailer, or tag-along, is a trailer that hitches behind a truck on a drawbar or pintle hitch instead of a fifth wheel.
- tare weightTare weight is the weight of an empty container or vehicle.
- temperature controlled storageTemperature-controlled storage is a space that holds goods within a set temperature range.
- temporary structure permitA temporary structure permit is local approval to place a structure on a site for a limited time.
- term leaseA term lease is a lease that runs for a fixed period.
- tilt-bed truckA tilt-bed truck has a bed that tilts down toward the ground.
- top side railA top side rail is the long steel beam along the upper edge of each side of a container.
- turning radiusTurning radius is the minimum space a vehicle needs to make a turn.
- twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU)A twenty-foot equivalent unit is a general unit of cargo capacity based on a 20-foot-long intermodal container.
U
- USDOT numberA USDOT number is the unique identifier that FMCSA gives to a company that operates commercial vehicles.
- used containerA used container is a container that has served a working life, usually at sea, before being sold or rented for storage.
- utility locateA utility locate is the marking of buried utility lines before digging.
- utilization rateA utilization rate is the share of time that rental assets earn money.
W
- weathering steelWeathering steel is a group of steel alloys that form a stable outer layer of rust, which removes the need for painting.
- white paperA white paper is a report that explains a topic or problem and gives guidance, often with research behind it.
- winchA winch is a mechanical device that pulls in or lets out a rope or cable on a drum.
- wind and water tight (WWT)Wind and water tight is a trade term for a used container that should have no holes or defects that let wind or water in.
- window cut-outA window cut-out is an opening cut into a container wall for a window.
- workers compensationWorkers compensation is insurance that covers an employer's liability for injuries, disability or death of people in its employment, without regard to fault.
Z
No terms match. Try a shorter word, or browse the guides.
For the industry
Grow your portable storage business with NPSA
Members get event rates, the Community Forum, the directory listing and leads from this website.
Need storage?
Get quotes from NPSA member companies
Tell us what you need and where. A member company that serves your area will contact you.