Need a Shipping Container? Here's Why You Should Hire One

Shipping containers suddenly seem to be in short supply. An ongoing shipping container crisis has brought about a worldwide shortage that spans multiple industries.

Pandemic pressures have brought about less employment at ports, fewer active ships and profoundly altered consumer purchasing trends. All of these factors have combined to create a significant shortage of shipping containers which has, in turn, created a surge in prices.

Unfortunately, higher prices make acquiring a much needed container seem impossible for many. But, even with purchasing prices reaching prohibitive heights, rental prices remain very affordable. Read on to learn how shipping container rental can work for you:

Why Shipping Container Rental Makes Sense

Although purchasing a shipping container outright might not make sense in the midst of such high-flying price tags, it's still possible to acquire containers for use without overspending. Rentals represent a unique opportunity for those with immediate, but short-term needs for containers.

Renting your next shipping container can help you to conserve your cash without wasting time waiting for wholesale prices to come back down into a reasonable range. Besides the immediate cost incentive, there are quite a few additional benefits to renting shipping containers that are worth considering:

Flexibility - When you decide to purchase a shipping container outright, you forfeit the ability to quickly dispose of it if it's no longer needed. You also miss out on the opportunity to switch container sizes at a moment's notice without having to line up a suitable buyer to take your purchased container away. By renting, you are free to use a container for a single purpose, then send it back to your provider once you are finished with it.

Experimentation - You should always plan ahead when it comes to storing things away in a shipping container. However, procuring a container that fits your needs and the space you have available for it can be tricky. Renting your shipping container makes it possible to try out different sizes and configurations.

Limited Liability - Maintenance is always a factor worth taking into consideration when you plan on purchasing a shipping container. Although ISO containers are designed to handle tremendous stress and resist the elements, they do wear down eventually. Given enough time, what was once a brand new container can quickly succumb to rain, heat and rust, costing you more money to maintain than it might have been worth to you in the first place. Hired shipping containers are maintained by the company that provides them, saving you the headache of handling such a process yourself.

Finding and Acquiring Storage Containers for Rent

Navigating the shipping container rental process is relatively simple with a qualified provider. In fact, you're likely to find it easier to manage than a full purchase in many cases – especially if you plan on using a shipping container for just a short time.

The full process involves a few key elements:

Choosing a Provider
Your shipping container provider should be able to offer a wide variety of container types to accommodate your needs. For instance, if you need to load up raw materials for transport or storage, an open top option could be useful, whereas for storing perishables, reefer options will be required. Many varieties are available, and not all providers carry the types you may need.

Location is also of the utmost importance when it comes to picking the perfect provider. Here at CBOX, we are uniquely positioned to serve clients in Australia, whereas non-local providers may have trouble doing the same.

Arranging Transportation
Renting a container involves picking it up, moving it to its destination and setting it down in such a way that it can be safely used.

For those looking to have their container travel by sea, it's especially important to have freight forwarding costs factored in first, before committing to anything. However, rented containers are always a more forgiving option costwise as you don't need to pay the full value of the container to use it as needed.

Loading and Unloading
Placing items inside your shipping container and locking them inside is likely the simplest part of the hiring process. However, you should still plan out the kind of equipment and assistance you may require to do so beforehand.

Once you have received your rented container, you are technically on the clock and obligated to pay to continue using it. Avoiding loading and unloading delays can help minimise unforeseen costs.

How CBOX Can Help With Container Hire

In Australia and abroad, the current shortage of shipping containers has led many to consider rental. 

At CBOX, we aim to assist you in finding and using the perfect container for your needs. Our containers are crafted to the highest quality standards, and we offer a wide range of new and used containers for immediate hire.

Both short-term and long-term leases can be obtained for our high-quality containers. Plus, we offer flexible term lengths to better fit your plans. Reach out today to learn more.