Are There Any Site Preparations I Need to Make Before the Container Arrives?

Getting your site ready before the container arrives makes the delivery faster, the placement more accurate, and the long-term performance of the container significantly better. The most critical preparation is making sure the surface the container sits on is solid and level. After that, it comes down to having the right clearance for the delivery truck and understanding any permit requirements in your area. This guide covers all of it.

Proper site prep before delivery means the container goes exactly where you need it, stays level, and performs reliably for the duration of your rental.

What Surface Should You Place a Storage Container On?

Surface selection is the single most important site preparation decision you'll make. We strongly recommend placing containers on hard, sturdy surfaces. A soft or uneven base leads to settling, which throws the container out of level, puts stress on the frame, and most visibly causes door alignment problems that make the doors difficult or impossible to open and close smoothly.

Asphalt: One of the best options for commercial sites. Provides a smooth, level, load-bearing surface that handles container weight well and keeps the unit stable over an extended rental period.
Concrete: The most solid option. Ideal for permanent or semi-permanent placements. Distributes the container's weight evenly and eliminates any settling concern.
Compacted gravel or crushed stone (rock pad): A purpose-built rock pad is the preferred solution when asphalt or concrete isn't available. Properly compacted stone drains well, resists settling, and provides a stable base even on sites with soft or uneven ground. Bolted Box builds rock pads as part of our service offering — more on that below.
Compacted dirt or road base: Acceptable if thoroughly compacted and level. Better than soft ground, but watch for settling over time, especially after rain.

Avoid: Grass, soft soil, mud, uneven ground, or any surface that hasn't been graded and compacted. Containers placed on grass or soft dirt will settle unevenly, cause door problems, and can be difficult to remove cleanly at the end of the rental. We see this issue regularly and it's entirely preventable.

A solid, level surface is the single most important site prep step — it keeps the container stable, the doors operating smoothly, and the pickup clean at the end of the rental.

Bolted Box Rock Pad Building Service

One of the more common situations we run into is a customer who wants to rent or buy a container but doesn't have a solid surface to put it on. Rather than sending customers elsewhere to figure out site prep, Bolted Box handles it directly. We build custom rock pads as a standalone service, giving you a properly engineered surface designed specifically for container placement.

Every rock pad we build is fully customized to your site and your needs. Here's what you can specify:

Dimensions: Width, length, and depth tailored to your container size and how much surrounding work area you want. We size it properly for the container's footprint plus maneuvering room.
Height: How elevated the pad sits above grade, which affects drainage and how the container sits relative to surrounding ground level.
Ramp extension: If you need to drive equipment or forklifts directly into the container, we can build a ramp extension to the doors so loading and unloading is fully grade-accessible.
Stone color: Rock pads don't have to be purely functional. If the container is going to be visible from the street or on a customer-facing property, we can match the stone color to your preference.

Whether you're renting one container for a short-term project or buying multiple containers for a permanent installation, a properly built rock pad is an investment that pays off in container performance and easier removal at the end. Call us at (317) 606-2658 or email LockedOut@BoltedBox.com to discuss your site and get a quote on a rock pad alongside your container.

Clearance and Access Requirements for Delivery

The delivery truck needs room to maneuver and back into position. Here's what to plan for based on container size:

20ft container: Minimum 60 to 80 feet of straight clearance from the drop point for the truck to back in.

40ft container: Minimum 80 to 100 feet of straight clearance. The longer container requires a wider swing radius on placement.

Width clearance: At least 14 feet of width for the truck to travel and position safely.

Overhead clearance: Watch for low-hanging utility lines, tree branches, or overhead structures along the delivery path. Minimum 14 feet of vertical clearance is needed.

If your site has unusual access conditions like a tight gate, a steep grade, soft entry points, or overhead obstacles, let us know before delivery day. Our drivers are experienced with challenging sites, but flagging these ahead of time allows us to come prepared and avoids delays on delivery day. Include any access notes in your order or reach out before your scheduled delivery.

The clearance needed for delivery scales with container size — plan for at least 80ft of straight back room for a 20ft container and 100ft for a 40ft unit.

Weight, Ground Stability, and Container Leveling

An empty 20ft container weighs approximately 4,800 pounds. A 40ft container comes in around 8,000 pounds empty. Fully loaded, either can approach or exceed 30,000 pounds depending on what you're storing. The ground underneath needs to handle that load without compressing or shifting over the course of the rental.

If you're placing the container on compacted gravel or dirt, check the area after the first significant rain. If the ground has shifted or the container has settled unevenly, it's much easier to address early than after several months. A container that sits out of level by more than an inch or two will begin to show door problems. If you notice this happening, call us and we can assess whether the container needs to be repositioned.

For sites with known soft soil, high water tables, or uneven terrain, a rock pad is the most reliable solution. It spreads the container's load across a larger, engineered surface and eliminates most settling risk over time.

Permits and Regulations in Indiana

In most Indiana commercial and industrial settings, a storage container placed on private property for temporary use doesn't require a permit. That said, regulations vary by municipality, so it's worth a quick check with your local zoning office before delivery if you're unsure.

The situations most likely to require a permit or additional review in Indiana include placing a container on or near a public right of way, sites in areas with active HOA oversight, projects in historic districts, or installations intended to be permanent rather than temporary. If your container is going on a private commercial property for job site or operational use, you're unlikely to encounter permitting requirements, but confirming with your city or county planning office takes about five minutes and removes any uncertainty.

For a full walkthrough of what to expect from the rental process start to finish, see Can you explain the process of renting and using a storage container? and Can you explain the process for scheduling delivery and pickup of a container?