Frequently Asked Questions

Shipping containers are typically made from corten steel which is a self-healing/weathering steel. The strength of this material has revolutionized the way we transport cargo across large bodies of water. It has helped ensure the safety of the load and increased the overall carrying capacity. The most common sizes of shipping containers are 20, 30, and 40 feet and also come in refrigerated designs. For the most part, they all have closed tops, hinged doors, and corrugated walls that are welded to the end frames and rails.

If you are using the container for international shipping, it will require a physical inspection and certification by a third-party container surveyor. With an ongoing global demand of goods, containers have been one of the largest and fastest growing cargo categories in many of the ports worldwide. These containers carry anything from equipment and machinery parts to children’s toys and clothing to perishable goods. Due to this increase in the production of containers there is a greater need of reliable inspections.

No, containers do not have titles. Your invoice and receipt from MCS is all you need to prove ownership.

Grease or oil the hinges to make opening and closing the doors easier. Ensure that the container is on flat, level ground. If not on level ground, the frame may twist making it difficult to open and close the doors. This is a regular problem with shipping containers; the industry term is ‘racked’. The cause of the door/s not closing is because the container isn’t sitting flat, which is different to being ‘level’. The container can be placed on a slope & it will open & close easily as long as the surface it is sitting on is flat.

MCS suggests before purchasing or taking delivery of a shipping container, perform proper research. Every county and municipality has different requirements.

Please contact us or fill out our contact form and we will be glad to answer any questions not answered in the FAQ

MCS outsources its delivery service to third-party trucking companies. Containers can be delivered by flatbed, tilt-bed, low-boy (low-bed) trailer, or chassis. Please note container delivery by flatbed, low-boy trailer, or chassis requires a forklift or crane at the delivery site. Alternatively, you can arrange for pick-up at MCS using a trucking company of your choice.

Make sure the ground you are placing the container is flat and level. You can make a concrete or gravel foundation or even in your yard without preparation. You will need 120 feet of space in a straight line for a roll-off bed delivery.

To ensure that what is delivered meets your expectations, we recommend you be home to sign for and receive your shipping container. At McLaren Containers, containers will be delivered at door

Once you’ve ordered your shipping container, MCS will issue you an invoice. Once your invoice is paid via check, money order, wire transfer, or credit card, MCS will release your container to you or the trucking company making your delivery. We collect the total sales price including delivery charge and all associated fees or taxes prior to releasing your order.

No, at this time MCS does not offer financing of purchases. If you foresee having a very large one time order or regular purchase, please contact us to get you set up with a credit application.

International standard (ISO) sizes are 20-foot, 40-foot and 40-foot “high cube”, which are the three most common sizes.

For used containers we are unable to allow the customer to request their color. We recommend pressure washing and painting used containers after delivery.

MCS uses the shipping container grades that are used by shipping lines. CWO means “cargo-worthy” and that a container can pass a CSC inspection to be stacked and transported on a cargo ship. WWT means “wind/water tight” with working doors and seal. A CWO container is also “wind and water tight” but a WWT container can no longer be certified for shipment (without repair). WWT containers are more likely to have cosmetic issues simply due to their age, but all WWT containers can be repaired to CWO status.

MCS do not offer the sale of refrigerated containers due to the inconsistency and limited availability of used inventory for sale.

For liability reasons, appointments to see the containers are not available. However, you can view examples of the containers on our website. The color and condition may vary slightly, but will give you a general idea of the container you will be purchasing.

It is the customer’s responsibility to perform routine maintenance once the container is purchased. We inspect every container that we receive, and make sure that every container is up to the standards that it is advertised to be.

Tampering with the container or altering the container structurally will void any guarantee. Inspect your container before accepting delivery. If the container is not up to the standards as described to you, we will exchange it for a different container. “As is” containers are sold with no warranty or guarantee.