Hiab container and cabin transport

Containers, cabins and welfare units

Operators regularly move 10ft, 20ft and 40ft shipping containers, portable site offices, welfare and canteen units, drying rooms, toilet blocks and modular buildings. Some also deliver garden rooms and storage units to homes.

Shorter units usually fit a rigid Hiab lorry. A 40ft container or a long modular unit normally needs an articulated Hiab or a larger crane, because the unit is longer than a rigid bed and the crane has to reach further to set it down.

How much does a container weigh?

An empty 20ft steel container typically weighs around 2.2 to 2.4 tonnes, and an empty 40ft container around 3.7 to 4 tonnes. Check the tare weight marked on the container door for the exact figure. Anything left inside adds to that, and the operator needs the total.

Cabins vary far more, depending on their construction, fittings and whether toilets or kitchens are fitted. Look for a manufacturer’s plate or ask the supplier. Never guess, because the crane’s safe lifting capacity drops the further the load is from the lorry.

Preparing the drop-off site

The lorry needs firm, level ground to stand on and room to put its stabiliser legs out. Most delivery problems come from soft ground, slopes, overhead cables, trees or gates narrower than expected.

• Measure the access width and look for overhead cables, branches and low structures
• Mark where the unit should sit and how far that is from where the lorry can park
• Make sure the base is level and ready, for example sleepers or a concrete pad
• Tell the operator if the lorry must stand on a public road, as council permission may be needed

What to send for a quote

Give both postcodes, the unit type and size, its weight including contents, photos of the collection and delivery points, and the date window. For an exchange, describe both units so the quote covers the whole job.

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