--- title: "turning radius: Definition and Meaning | NPSA" description: "Turning radius is the minimum space a vehicle needs to make a turn." url: https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/turning-radius publisher: National Portable Storage Association (NPSA) phone: "(816) 960-6552" email: info@npsa.org --- Delivery equipment # 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. ## Why it matters Turning radius decides whether a truck can reach your drop spot. A long box needs more room than a short one. Operators ask for gate widths, corner angles and street layouts before they dispatch. A common mistake is to check only the space for the container itself. The truck needs to enter, turn and back up. Tight cul-de-sacs, narrow gates and parked cars can stop a delivery. Customers should measure the path, clear obstacles and send photos to the provider. Some delivery guides advise much more straight-line space for a 40 ft box than a 20 ft box. Ask your provider for their exact needs. [Read: How to prepare your site for a storage container delivery](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/guides/site-preparation-for-container-delivery) Definition source: [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turning_radius) ## Related terms [### 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.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/overhead-clearance)[### 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.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/delivery-access)[### 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.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/tilt-bed-truck)[### site preparation Site preparation is the work done on a spot before a container arrives. It includes clearing the access path, checking overhead room, making the ground firm and fairly level, and sometimes adding a gravel or stone base. The goal is a safe drop and a unit that sits flat.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/site-preparation)[### 40 ft container A 40 ft container is a long ISO shipping container, 40 feet long and 8 feet wide. Standard height is 8 feet 6 inches. A high cube version is about 9 feet 6 inches tall. It holds roughly twice the length of a 20 ft box.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/40-ft-container)[### 20 ft container A 20 ft container is the standard short ISO shipping container. It is about 19 feet 10 1/2 inches long, 8 feet wide and 8 feet 6 inches tall on the outside. It is the most common size in portable storage and counts as one twenty-foot equivalent unit.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/20-ft-container) [All 220 terms](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary) 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. [Join NPSA](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/join-us)[See member benefits](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/member-benefits) 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. [Request a quote](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/request-a-quote)[Which unit do I need?](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/find-storage)