Container delivery to your premises: checklist
Before booking, get written agreement on lorry access, the unloading method, equipment and staff, the arrival window, waiting terms and what happens if unloading fails. Send the haulier a site plan and cargo packing details rather than just a postcode. Coordinate factory packing with your receiving plan through Cambridge China Bridge.
Confirm access for the actual vehicle
Ask the haulier to confirm the proposed vehicle and whether it can reach, manoeuvre at and leave your unloading point. Send photographs and a site plan showing gate clearance, tight turns, overhead obstructions, slopes, ground condition and parked vehicles. Identify the entrance explicitly; a postcode may lead the driver to the wrong gate.
Agree the parking position, pedestrian routes and who will meet the driver. If access is uncertain, request a site assessment before booking. A registered business address does not establish delivery suitability; see importing without commercial premises for that distinction.
Match unloading equipment to the packing
Confirm whether goods are palletised, loose cartons or awkward items. Obtain package weights, dimensions, pallet details and loading photographs. Ask your equipment provider to confirm suitable capacity, reach, attachments and access for the proposed unloading method. Owning a forklift does not establish that it can reach goods inside a container on a trailer.
Specify whether unloading will use a loading dock, suitable ramp or another agreed method, and who supplies each item. Do not assume a tail lift or ground-level container placement is included. Align packing and loading order with the receiving method before shipment; use the container-loading checklist for factory checks.
Allocate people and agree the safe method
HSE guidance says companies involved should agree loading and unloading arrangements in advance. Put the division of work in writing: who opens the container, handles the goods, operates equipment and supervises unloading. Confirm trained operators and enough receiving staff for the actual packing method. Do not treat driver assistance as included unless agreed.
Prepare a delivery briefing covering the unloading sequence, communication signals, driver waiting position and how vehicle movement will be controlled. Allocate clear space for received goods and keep other work away from the operation. Name a receiving lead and a replacement contact who can decide to stop work if conditions are unsafe.
Book a window the site can actually support
Confirm the delivery date, arrival window, booking reference, receiving contact and notification procedure. Ask whether the window is confirmed or provisional, how delays will be communicated and what happens if the vehicle arrives early or late. Align equipment hire, staffing and access arrangements with the agreed booking.
Get the included unloading allowance and waiting terms in writing. Ask when the clock starts, how waiting is recorded and who can authorise extra time. Confirm whether the vehicle stays during unloading or the container is left for later collection. For responsibility between transport parties, see container delivery handoffs.
Agree what happens if unloading cannot proceed
Before dispatch, agree the escalation contacts and options if access is blocked, equipment fails, staff are unavailable or the load appears unsafe. Options might include waiting, rebooking or diversion to a warehouse already willing to receive the goods. Confirm who approves each option and pays the agreed charges; do not assume the driver can arrange an alternative.
If the delivery fails, record arrival and departure times, photographs, the reason and instructions exchanged. Avoid opening or disturbing an unsafe load just to meet a deadline. Ask the forwarder to confirm the empty-container return arrangement and any affected deadlines. Use the demurrage, detention and storage guide when checking the resulting charge categories.
Frequently asked questions
Will the container driver unload my goods?
Do not assume so. Agree driver assistance, your unloading team and equipment with the haulier before booking, and record who does each task.
Can I unload a container with a forklift?
Possibly, but confirm capacity, reach, attachments and access against the packing details and trailer position. Ask your equipment provider to confirm the proposed method.
How long do I get to unload a container?
Ask the haulier for the allowance in your booking, when it starts and the waiting terms. Plan staffing around the actual load rather than an assumed standard allowance.
What happens if I cannot unload the container?
Follow the agreed escalation plan. Confirm whether the vehicle waits, returns or diverts, who authorises the decision and which charges apply. Record the reason and instructions.