Will a shipping container damage my driveway?
An empty container on a sound concrete driveway almost never causes damage; the risk is the delivery truck and the slide-off, and later the four corner castings carrying a loaded box on one spot for years. Put a timber or a steel plate under each corner and keep the truck off asphalt on a hot afternoon, and a driveway will be fine.
What the truck and the box need, by size
| 20ft | 40ft | |
|---|---|---|
| Straight run for the truck | about 110 ft | about 130 ft |
| Width of the path | 12 ft | 12 ft |
| Clear height (driving / unloading) | 15 ft / 22 ft | 15 ft / 22 ft |
| Gravel pad (ideal) | 25 × 10 ft, 4 in. deep | 45 × 10 ft, 4 in. deep |
| Corner support | 4 solid blocks under the castings | 4 solid blocks (6 on soft ground) |
| Empty weight on those corners | about 4,850 lb | about 8,250–8,600 lb |
The full checklist with photos: container delivery access. Prices for your ZIP are on the containers page.
Concrete vs asphalt
Concrete takes a container well. A 20ft weighs around 5,000 pounds empty and that load sits on four small corner castings, so the pressure under each is real but far below what a driveway slab is poured for. Cracks come from edges and from slabs that were already hollow underneath, not from the box.
Asphalt is softer and it gets soft in a south Mississippi July. The corners of a loaded box will dish into it over a summer, and the tilt-bed's rear wheels and the sliding container can scuff or gouge it during delivery. If the box is going on asphalt, put something under the corners and ask for a morning delivery when the surface is cool.
Pavers and decorative concrete are the ones to worry about. The truck's turning and the slide can shift or chip them. A gravel pad beside the drive is usually the better home for a box you intend to keep.
How to protect the surface
Under each corner: a treated 6x6 offcut, a concrete block, or a steel plate. It spreads the load, lifts the floor for airflow, and makes levelling easy. See container on grass for the full pad options.
Think about where the truck will drive, not just where the box will sit. Edges of a slab, a culvert at the road, and a soft shoulder are where the damage happens. Walk the driver's path before you order and move anything that forces the truck onto an edge.
Because you own this container, it will be on that spot for years. A little gravel and four blocks now is cheaper than a slab repair later. See containers for sale — delivered price by ZIP
Buying a container?
Longleaf sells used and one-trip 20ft and 40ft shipping containers, delivered by tilt-bed across the Pine Belt. Enter your ZIP for the delivered price — it comes straight from the supplier feed and already includes the haul. Locks, vents, shelving and lights are on the accessories page. We sell; we do not rent.
- 20ft Standard Cargo Worthy (used) — from $2,885 delivered
- 20ft Standard One Trip (new) — from $3,635 delivered
- 20ft Standard Wind & Watertight (used) — from $2,470 delivered
- 40ft High Cube Cargo Worthy (used) — from $3,525 delivered
- 40ft High Cube One Trip (new) — from $4,925 delivered
- 40ft High Cube Wind & Watertight (used) — from $3,210 delivered
- 40ft Standard Cargo Worthy (used) — from $3,525 delivered
- 40ft Standard One Trip (new) — from $6,355 delivered
- 40ft Standard Wind & Watertight (used) — from $3,160 delivered
Keep reading
- Can you put a shipping container on grass? — Shipping container on grass or dirt: why the truck is the first problem, why a box you own should never sit flat on turf, and the cheap pad that fixes it.
- Do you need a permit for a shipping container on your property? — Shipping container permit rules in the Pine Belt: how cities treat a permanent container like a shed, when the street needs a permit, and who to call first.
- How much does a shipping container weigh? — Shipping container weight: empty tare for a 20ft and 40ft, the maximum gross rating, why a loaded box never nears it, and what the weight means for your pad.
- Are shipping containers really watertight? — Are shipping containers watertight: what wind-and-watertight, cargo worthy and one-trip guarantee against rain, and why condensation still needs vents.
- How to get ready for delivery day — Prepare for a shipping container delivery: mark the spot, clear the straight run, firm up the ground, set corner blocks, and have someone there on the day.
Across the Pine Belt
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