Shipping containers and trailers in Sydney

Delivering into Sydney

Delivery to any Sydney address is free, and the units come from stock. What takes the planning is the last fifty metres. Sydney has the tightest residential access of any capital we deliver into: narrow streets, steep driveways, battleaxe blocks and very little room to turn a truck with a container on the back.

Steep and stepped blocks

A great many Sydney blocks fall away from the street. A tilt-tray needs to slide a container off onto ground that is reasonably level — it cannot place a unit down a slope, and it cannot work safely on a steep driveway. Where the block drops away, the realistic options are a side-loader placing the unit near the street, a crane lift over the obstacle, or choosing a smaller container that fits the usable flat area. Work this out before ordering.

Narrow streets and parked cars

In the inner suburbs the street itself is often the constraint. A truck needs clear road space to position and operate, and a line of parked cars can make an otherwise simple delivery impossible. Where the street has to be occupied, a council permit may be required and is arranged by you before the delivery is booked. Choosing a weekday morning helps more than people expect.

Side-loader or crane

A side-loader needs a clear strip beside the drop point rather than a long run behind it, which suits many Sydney blocks far better than a tilt-tray. A crane is the answer when the unit has to clear a fence, a wall or a level change — it costs more and is quoted separately, but it is often the only way a difficult site gets its container.

Council rules across Sydney

Sydney councils vary widely. Some are relaxed about a container behind a fence for storage; others take a close interest in anything visible from the street or kept permanently, and development consent can be required. Anything used as habitable space needs approval. Ask your council the specific question — what you intend to use it for, how long it will be there and whether it will be visible — before you commit.

Coastal corrosion

Sydney is a coastal city and salt air is hard on steel, especially where the factory paint has been scratched during handling or where a modification has exposed bare metal. Touch up damage when you see it, keep the roof clear of debris and leaves, and check the door seals once a year. A container that is maintained will outlast one that is not by many years.

Trailers in NSW

Trailers can be collected ready to tow or delivered free. Registration goes through Transport for NSW and the requirements depend on the trailer and its mass. Make sure your vehicle towing capacity covers the GVM you actually intend to load to, not just the empty weight of the trailer.