Delivery equipment
tilt-bed truck
A tilt-bed truck has a bed that tilts down toward the ground. A winch pulls a container onto or off the bed. It places a 20 ft or 40 ft container on the ground without a crane or forklift. It is the most common delivery truck in portable storage.
Why it matters
The tilt-bed truck is the main delivery tool in portable storage. The truck backs into position, the bed tilts and a winch slides the container to the ground. Operators like it because it needs no on-site lifting gear. It needs space, though. A long box needs a long straight run behind the truck, plus firm, level ground and clear overhead space. A common mistake is to book delivery without checking the path. Wet ground, low wires, tight turns and slopes can stop a delivery. Customers should mark the spot, clear the path and be on site. Operators should confirm access before they dispatch.
Read: Container delivery equipment: Tilt-bed, roll-off, side-loader, and crane trucks
Definition source: supercubes.com
Related terms
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.
roll-off truck
A 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-off trailers also exist. Some operators use them to move storage containers. It is common in waste hauling and some container work.
side loader
A 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. It can lift from the side, so it needs less room at the front or back.
flatbed truck
A flatbed truck has a flat, level bed with no sides or roof. It can be a rigid truck or a tractor with a trailer. A flatbed can haul a container but needs a crane or forklift at the drop site to unload it.
delivery access
Delivery access is the space and route a truck needs to reach the drop spot. It includes the road, driveway, gates, turning room and overhead clearance. XCaliber Container gives a guide of about 10 feet of width on each side of the container and 13 feet of overhead clearance.
overhead clearance
Overhead clearance is the free vertical space above a road or drop site. Trees, power lines, bridges and roof edges limit it. A delivery truck and container need enough clear height to travel and tilt without contact. Check it along the full route.
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