---
title: "container jack: Definition and Meaning | NPSA"
description: "A container jack is a portable lifting device that raises one end or corner of a container."
url: https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/container-jack
publisher: National Portable Storage Association (NPSA)
phone: "(816) 960-6552"
email: info@npsa.org
---

Delivery equipment

# container jack

A container jack is a portable lifting device that raises one end or corner of a container. It lets crews lift a box off the ground, level it or slide wheels or skids under it. Hydraulic jack sets are common.

## Why it matters

Container jacks help move boxes without a crane. A crew can lift a box, fit rollers or a dolly, and shift it around a yard. They also help level a container on uneven ground. Operators use them to place and adjust storage units on small sites. A common mistake is to use a jack outside its rated capacity. Another is to lift on soft ground without a base plate. Check the load rating against the box weight, follow the maker's instructions and keep people out from under the container. Chock or block the box as directed, and never stand in the fall zone.

[Read: Container delivery equipment: Tilt-bed, roll-off, side-loader, and crane trucks](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/guides/container-delivery-equipment)

Definition source: [bison-jacks.com](https://www.bison-jacks.com/)

## Related terms

[### skid A skid is a steel runner or base fitted to a container so it can be towed, dragged or slid across a yard. Quick-attach skids bolt to the box. Oilfield skids are a heavier, full version. The word also has other uses in trade.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/skid)[### winch A winch is a mechanical device that pulls in or lets out a rope or cable on a drum. On a tilt-bed truck, a winch pulls a container up onto the bed or lets it slide down to the ground in a controlled way.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/winch)[### gravel pad A gravel pad is a prepared base of crushed stone or gravel placed on the ground for a container to sit on. Conexwest calls a compacted gravel pad one of the most practical base options for many storage containers because it improves drainage and is generally easier to install than concrete.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/gravel-pad)[### compacted base A compacted base is a layer of soil or crushed stone that has been pressed down so it is firm and stable. It sits under a container to carry the weight and resist settling. Conexwest notes that some sites need compaction, stone, piers or professional soil review before placement.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/compacted-base)[### level ground Level ground is a flat, firm surface without noticeable slope or dips. XCaliber Container advises that a site for a container should have level, firm ground free of pooling water and with few tree roots. Level ground helps placement and prevents tilting or sinking.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/level-ground)[### container forklift A container forklift is a forklift used to lift or load containers. It may lift an empty container by its forklift pockets, or it may drive into a container to load pallets. Heavy-duty container handlers are a different class of machine.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/container-forklift)

[All 220 terms](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary)

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