Industry and products
container yard
A container yard is an area where shipping containers are stored, staged and moved between trucks, rail and ships. In shipping, a container yard sits at or near a port, rail terminal or inland depot and holds both loaded and empty containers.
Why it matters
Portable storage operators also use the word for the lot where they keep their own fleet. The yard is where containers are inspected, repaired, stacked and loaded onto delivery trucks. Layout matters. Operators need a firm surface, turning room for trucks, safe stacking and good lighting and fencing. A common mistake is to treat a yard as free space for any container. Zoning rules may limit outdoor storage, stacking height and fencing, and rules differ by city and county. In port shipping, a yard may also set return dates and gate rules for equipment. Check local zoning before you lease or buy land for a yard.
Read: How to start a portable storage business
Definition source: terminal49.com
Related terms
depot
A depot is a facility where empty shipping containers are stored and returned. Depots may be run by a shipping line, a container lessor or an independent company. An inland depot works like a container yard away from the port, where containers can be dropped, picked up and moved again.
storage center
A storage center is a secure site where a portable storage company keeps customer containers off the customer's property. After a customer fills a container, the provider picks it up and stores it at the center until the customer wants it back or wants it moved.
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.
reach stacker
A reach stacker is a vehicle that handles intermodal cargo containers in terminals and ports. It has a telescopic boom that lifts, carries and stacks loaded containers several high. It grips them by the corner castings. It is built for heavy, high-volume yards.
zoning ordinance
A zoning ordinance is a local law that controls how land can be used and built on. It divides a city or county into districts and sets which uses, building sizes and activities are allowed in each. Los Angeles describes zoning as turning a city's goals into land use rules.
turning radius
Turning radius is the minimum space a vehicle needs to make a turn. A long delivery truck with a trailer needs wide, open space to turn without hitting fences, curbs or buildings. It is often given as a radius or a diameter.
For the industry
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