Industry and products
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. The customer loads the container, the company picks it up, and it is stored or delivered to a new address. PODS uses these steps in its rental process.
Why it matters
PMS companies serve households that want an alternative to renting a truck or using a fixed self-storage unit. Many also keep containers in a storage center between trips. NPSA's local move and long-distance move pages describe this model. A common mistake is to treat PMS as the whole industry. Portable storage also covers jobsite containers, trailers, mobile offices and other uses. The term PMS is an industry shorthand that some companies use and others do not. Operators should use plain words in customer copy. Customers should look at what each company includes.
Definition source: pods.com
Related terms
moving container
A moving container is a portable storage container used to move a household. PODS describes portable storage containers as large, secure, usually weather-resistant boxes that can be moved from place to place. The customer loads the container, and the company carries it to a storage center or a new home.
portable storage
Portable storage is storage in a container, trailer or similar unit that can be moved to the customer's site or elsewhere. NPSA describes portable storage containers as ISO shipping containers retired from international shipping and offered for rent and purchase on the domestic market. NPSA also includes trailers and mobile offices in the industry.
local move
A local move is a move within the same area, usually the same city or region. With portable storage, the provider delivers a container, the customer loads it, and the provider takes it to the new address or to a storage center. The customer does not need a rental truck.
long distance move
A long distance move is a move to a distant city or another state. With portable storage, the customer loads a container at home, the provider moves it by third-party carrier to the new area, and a local team delivers it for unloading. The customer does not drive a truck.
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 shuttle
A 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. It is a local container relocation, not a long haul.
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.