Removals Companies Moving Over To Shipping Containers
Thursday, 25th March 2010
There has been an increasing trend for removals companies using shipping containers . In some cases the traditional huge removal lorries, normally seen on the road, have been replaced by flatbed trailers with twistlocks and even hiabs specifically for containers.
The use of shipping containers is due to the benefits they offer in efficiency. A purpose built removal lorry can be used for little else when business is quiet and takes up huge amounts of yard space when parked up. As we are all only too aware the removal industry is closely linked to the housing market and seasonal peaks and troughs can mean at times vehicles are not required. The ability to stack containers and trailers or off-hire them can free up yard space or reduce the need for such large sites thus reducing overheads.
Another benefit is when removal companies also diversify into storage. Normally a removal lorry would have to go to a property, be loaded, then return to the depot and the goods transferred into a self storage unit. The same in reverse would have to be carried out when the client requires their contents returned. A container, or pair of containers can be delivered and if needs be dropped off and left then picked up and returned to the depot for storage. When needed again the containers are simply redelivered and emptied. This reduces the amount of handling, saving labour time, potential damage and the cost savings can be passed onto the customer.
Some removal companies have even gone so far as to have container conversions carried out. Side access doors, roller shutters , 8ft and 10ft containers are all very popular modifications wit this industry. Quite often the boxes will also be sprayed in the companies corporate colours to reinforce their brand image.