Moving a shipping container can be challenging. It requires careful planning, preparation, and execution to ensure a smooth relocation process. Unsurprisingly, shipping containers are extremely heavy, especially once loaded; therefore, selecting suitable transportation is essential to conduct a shipping container safely.

With the right equipment, technique, and safety precautions, this task can be completed with minimal disruption and maximum efficiency. Dive into our blog to discover how to move your shipping container and our top tips for ensuring a secure move.

• What is a Shipping Container?
• Best Ways to Move a Shipping Container
• Tips for Safely Moving Your Shipping Container
• Moving a Shipping Container FAQs

What is a Shipping Container?

A shipping container is a solid metal, reusable container made from corrugated steel. Primarily, shipping containers hold cargo and transport goods over sea, land, or rail. They have gained popularity over recent years for various secondary uses, such as storage units and temporary workspace solutions.

Shipping containers come in various standard sizes, including 6, 12, and 14 metres. They are regularly exposed to the elements during transportation, so they are constructed to provide stability and strength to withstand all weather conditions while stacked.

Best Ways to Move a Shipping Container

Various factors must be assessed before moving a container to determine the safest and most efficient transportation method. The container size, weight, and distance it needs to move will determine which mode of transport should be used to move it from point A to point B.

Crane

Cranes are a great way to move shipping containers. Containers are constructed with corner castings that allow the crane to latch onto each corner of the container for an improved grip, allowing for a secure move over short distances.

Dockside cranes are the quickest and easiest way to move a single standard-sized container from one location to another. To move a container, the crane sets the hydraulic boom on one or two rail tracks and hooks the container to the boom. The container is then lifted into the air and placed on the ground in its desired location.

However, dockside cranes are costly, and the operator must be fully trained to operate the machinery safely and efficiently. Therefore, it may be necessary to consider other options, especially if it is a one-off operation.

Forklift

Using a forklift offers a practical solution to moving a single container. Standard forklifts cannot be used to move a shipping container; container handler or multi-directional forklifts are better designed to move containers from one place to another. 

If you use a forklift to move a shipping container, it is vital to ensure that it is outfitted to lift the container’s weight and that the forks are broad enough to safely lift the container without damaging it.

Accredited training is essential to operating a forklift effectively. Only a forklift operator with extensive knowledge and experience in safe operation that complies with regulations should lift a shipping container with a forklift.

Train

The train is a standard mode of transportation for large or industrial-based companies to ship containers. This is most frequently used for long-distance travel when a rail line is nearby where the container needs to be placed or if the container needs to be made to briefly cross a body of water. 

However, using a train as your mode of transport is not always feasible. You must first use other methods, such as a forklift or a crane, to get the shipping container to the railroad.

Lorry

Trucks are the most popular choice if you move a shipping container long distances. There are a handful of different truck types available.

1. Tilt and Slide Lorries: This type of lorry is the most common for shipping standard-sized containers less than 200 miles. Its deck tilts back at an angle, enabling the container to slide out of the back once it reaches its destination. It is essential to ensure the ground is dry, firm, and flat so the container does not get stuck.
2. Flatbed Lorry: This type of lorry is the go-to option for both short—and long-distance travel as it can carry many sizes of shipping containers. Flatbed lorries are easy to load and unload and can be driven over multiple types of terrain, making moving a container efficient. Still, they must be carefully secured with appropriate equipment to prevent movement during transit.
3. Skeletal Trailers: These trucks are ideal for shipping containers as they can be adjusted to the desired size and length of the container.

Tips for Safely Moving Your Shipping Container

Once you have selected your transportation method, you must prepare your container for safe and secure transportation.

Pack Container Evenly

When packing your container, you should pack the items strategically to ensure all goods are tightly packed to prevent movement. Your container’s load should be evened out to maintain balance. Distribute your load equally by placing the heaviest items across the bottom of your container, with the lighter items placed on top. Your container should then be sealed appropriately using cargo strips.

Secure the Container

Once you load your container into transportation mode, it is vital to fasten it securely. The container should be secured using the appropriate restraints, such as rope, twist locks, chains, or straps to prevent movement or tipping during transportation. Make sure the restraints are as tight as possible before setting off.

Inspect the Container

Before starting the move, inspecting the container for structural integrity, damage, or defects that may compromise its stability during transit is essential. Containers must be well-structured to adequately protect their contents; therefore, any damage to the container may impact its ability to keep the goods safe and secure.

Assess Site Conditions

After ensuring the container is packed, secured, and inspected, it is time to start the move. However, before moving the container, it is vital to assess the site conditions to identify potential obstacles or hazards that may impede the relocation process. Clear the area of obstacles to ensure adequate space for manoeuvring. Having good visibility of your surroundings during transit is essential to ensure the journey runs smoothly.

Monitor Weather Conditions

Monitor the forecast and weather conditions closely, especially if the container is being moved over a long distance. Avoid transporting the container during inclement weather conditions, such as strong winds or heavy rain, minimising the risk of accidents or damage to the container and its contents.

Follow Safe Handling Practices

Those responsible for moving a shipping container should be well-versed in the rules and regulations associated with container handling and relocation. Personnel should be trained on proper lifting techniques, communication, and teamwork to ensure a coordinated and efficient movement.

Operate a Forklift Safely with HL Training

If you opt to move your shipping container with a forklift, you must be trained appropriately to ensure a safe operation. At HL training, our team of experienced instructors are well-versed in the safety precautions to be adhered to when transporting a shipping container. Our training courses can be delivered to novices or seasoned operators at your site using a specially designed forklift to provide you with the training and knowledge needed to operate a forklift safely and efficiently. Contact our team today to learn how to move a shipping container safely with a forklift.

Moving a Shipping Container FAQs

Are shipping containers easy to move?

The process will be seamless as long as the correct mode of transportation is chosen for moving a shipping container. The load must be evenly distributed on the transport to prevent any tipping.

Can a forklift move a shipping container?

Yes, a forklift can move a shipping container. However, your standard forklift is not equipped to do so. Moving a shipping container requires a forklift designed explicitly with wider forks that allow the arms to lift and move the container without shifting or tipping.

How do you move a shipping container with a forklift?

Drive the forklift to the container with assistance to ensure it is in the correct position. Align the forks with the forklift pockets at the bottom of shipping containers to aid movement. Once the forks are aligned and locked onto the container, they can be moved around. Upon arriving at your destination, you can safely lower the forks and remove the container.

Forklifts are invaluable tools for many industries, allowing the efficient movement and safe handling of heavy goods. However, effectively operating a forklift comes from thoroughly understanding its components and dynamics. The load centre is a critical element significantly impacting forklift performance and stability. If you are wondering what a forklift load centre is, you are in the right place. Our comprehensive blog will delve into defining a load centre and how you can calculate your forklift load centre to ensure safe and efficient operation.

• How Do Forklifts Work?
• What is a Forklift Load Centre?
• How to Work Out a Forklift Load Centre
• What Factors Influence the Load Centre?
• Load Centre Tips & Tricks
• Fork Load Centre FAQs

How Do Forklifts Work?

Before determining the load centre of a forklift, we need to understand how a forklift works. The composition of a forklift means it acts similarly to a seesaw. If one side has more weight than the other, your truck is at risk of tipping over. The forklift, therefore, needs to be loaded correctly to ensure a safe operation.

What is a Forklift Load Centre?

A forklift load centre is the distance between the forks’ vertical face and the load’s centre of gravity. 

Essentially, the load centre is the middle of a forklift load. The centre of gravity is the point where an item’s weight is concentrated, which exists individually in the forklift and a load. In an unloaded forklift, the centre of gravity falls towards the rear of the machine.

The arrangement of the items in a load determines the centre of gravity. Once the forklift is loaded, the centre of gravity combines with the load and moves toward the front of the machine to prevent tipping. Therefore, it is essential to determine the load centre of your forklift to keep the centre of gravity in the middle.

How to Work Out a Forklift Load Centre

The majority of standard forklift trucks handle 1 metre long pallets. Assuming the load is evenly distributed when placed on the forklift, it will have a 61 centimetre load centre. All forklifts contain a rating plate detailing maximum weight capacity at a certain height and the load centre distance to ensure safe operation.

However, it is essential to remember that the load centre is not always 61 centimetres. The load centre will change depending on the length of the load they are handling. Forklifts designed to lift long loads may have a 91 centimetre load centre but could be as high as 121 centimetres.

Calculating Load Capacity

Knowing your forklift load centre is essential for determining its lifting capacity. Forklift lift capacity measures how much weight a forklift can safely carry. A safe load capacity must be calculated to ensure a secure operation, especially if the load is oversized.

If we assume that a forklift has a 61 centimetre standard load centre with a rated capacity of 1.81 kilograms, but we need to handle a load with a load centre of 81 centimetres, a safe load capacity for your forklift would be less than 1.81 kilograms. 

To calculate the safe load capacity, take the standard load capacity and divide it by the actual load centre of your load. Multiply this figure by the rated capacity to retrieve your answer, for example:

(61 cm / 81cm) * 1.81kg = 1.37kg

Your forklift, therefore, has a safe load capacity of 1.37 kilograms for a load centre of 81 centimetres.

What Factors Influence the Load Centre?

Attachments

Installing any after market forklift attachments, such as fork rotators and side shift, will increase the load centre as they change the distance from the original fork face and the fulcrum point. The distance the attachment extends the load centre forward is the effective thickness. This, in turn, causes the load moment to increase, consequently decreasing the lifting capacity. Forklifts with attachments added should install a new data plate outlining the new load centre distance.

Load Distribution

The load centre is only applicable to loads that are evenly distributed. The centre of gravity for an unevenly distributed load will either move forward or side-to-side, causing the lifting capacity to decrease. In cases where the load centre is uneven, forklift operators should keep the load as close to the ground as possible during transportation.

Load Centre Tips & Tricks

Our top 4 tips and tricks to maintain your forklift load centre:

1. Distribute your load evenly if possible

Uneven loads will increase the load centre. If the centre of gravity does not sit in the middle of the forklift once loaded, it is at risk of tipping over. Arrange your load evenly in vertical and horizontal directions to maintain the centre of gravity.

2. Load items as close to the fork face as possible

Ensure the load is placed on the forks and as close to the load backrest as possible. The load centre increases with the distance the load is placed away from the backrest. This reduces lifting capacity, so it is best practice to ensure it is against the backrest.

3. Forward tilting reduces truck stability

If your forklift is loaded, tilting the load forward will increase the load centre. This is because you are moving the load away from the middle of the forklift, offsetting the centre of gravity. If you are handling a load that is already pushing the safe load capacity, tilting forward can cause the forklift to tip forward, resulting in injury.

4. Drive carefully

Even if your load is evenly distributed and within its safe loading capacity, the truck can become unstable if not driven carefully. Driving at a sensible speed, below the recommended speed limit, is essential. Accelerate and brake smoothly, slowing down for any corners while keeping the load as low to the ground as safely possible.

Fork Load Centre FAQs

How far should forks enter a pallet?

The forks should be placed under a load as far as possible. The forks should be at least two-thirds the length of the load for safe operation.

Can a forklift be unstable without a load?

Forklifts can become unstable even without carrying a load if not carefully driven. If a driver turns a corner too fast or travels over an uneven surface, they risk tipping over and injuring themselves or those around them.

What would happen if you exceeded the safe load capacity?

It is an offence to exceed the truck’s capacity, in line with the LOLER 1998 and Health and Safety at Work Act Section 7a, Acts and Omissions. By overloading your forklift, you are throwing the centre of gravity off, increasing the likelihood of tipping. This is extremely dangerous. Tip-overs are the leading cause of forklift injuries and casualties a year, so it is crucial to avoid exceeding the safe loading capacity of your forklift.

Progress Your Forklift Skillset with HL Training

Expand your forklift knowledge and learn the ins and outs of operation with our extensive range of expert training courses at HL training. At HL Training, we proudly deliver both off-site and in-house accredited training designed to suit your requirements. Whether you are a novice hoping to learn the ropes of forklift operation or an experienced forklift operator wanting to become an instructor, we have the perfect array of training courses. Contact our expert team today to learn more about our services.

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HL Training are proud to announce that we have passed our RTITB Accreditation audit with zero shortfalls! We are delighted to have achieved this accreditation, providing a testament to our high training standards. As an RTITB Accredited Partner, we can prove to our customers that we are a trusted supplier, qualified to deliver operator and instructor training of the highest quality.

• What is RTITB Accreditation
• The Role of an RTITB-Accredited Organisation
• Benefits of RTITB Accreditation
• Our RTITB Accreditation Achievements
• Our Other Accreditations

What is RTITB Accreditation?

RTITB Ltd (formerly the Road Transport Industry Training Board) monitors and evaluates training standards within the lift truck industry. An RTITB Accreditation is awarded to the training organisation that continuously meets high standards of training.

Each year, the accredited organisation must submit a renewal application that will be checked and verified by the RTITB accreditation team, who will determine whether a further year’s accreditation will be granted. The RTITB annual audit reinforces compliant, consistent, and practical training.

The Role of an RTITB-Accredited Organisation

Passing an RTITB accreditation audit with no shortfalls can not be achieved by doing the bare minimum. RTITB Ltd is responsible for ensuring that only the organisations that meet current best training practices while exceeding minimum legal requirements are awarded the accreditation. 

As an RTITB-accredited organisation, our responsibilities at HL Training include:

• Delivering outstanding training that reduces costs and saves lives
• Conducting training in accordance with the RTITB accreditation.
• Ensuring that current, up-to-date copies of relevant course materials are always used in training
• Providing a suitable premise for RTITB Ltd training
• Providing appropriate training resources, including well-maintained equipment

Benefits of RTITB Accreditation

• RTITB accreditation has enabled us at HL training to grow our business by showcasing our ability to offer exceptional training with engaging materials to lift truck operators and instructors.
• As an accredited organisation, we have access to regular visits from the RTITB accreditation team, providing extra support to ensure we always deliver compliant and up-to-date training.
• As an RTITB-accredited partner, we can prove ourselves to be a trusted training provider dedicated to providing safe and secure training of the highest quality.
• RTITB accreditation is only awarded to ethical employers who offer good working conditions for their staff. Achieving this accreditation shows that we are a trustworthy employer that cares about our staff.

Our RTITB Accreditation Achievements

From our initial partnership with the then Road Transport Industry Training Board in 1988, we at HL Training are delighted to be an RTITB-accredited partner. With our RTITB accreditation, we have achieved so much. 7 of our trainers are currently delivering up to 100 RTITB operator courses annually. Access to professional and high-quality training materials has made this process much smoother, reducing operator and instructor training time and costs.

RTITB accreditation has enabled us to confidently offer operator training on various machine types, from forklifts to multiple Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs). As providers of forklift instructor training, we can meet the needs of many customers, such as large organisations looking to enhance skills in-house or training providers expanding their knowledge and wishing to become an RTITB registered instructor.

Our Training Courses Are Utilised by RTITB Ltd Themselves

RTITB have given HL Training the ultimate seal of approval by uttilising our services to provide instructor courses to their customers. For example, in June 2023, we successfully provided RTITB Accredited Lorry Loader Instructor Training for one of their very own customers.

Our Other Accreditations

As well as RTITB Ltd, we also boast a range of industry-recognised accreditations. 

ITSSAR

ITSSAR (Independent Training Standards Scheme And Register) is an accreditation scheme dedicated to improving the standards and safety of training for mechanical handling equipment. We have offered ITSSAR Operator Training since the 1990s, with Instructor training on offer for over 10 years. 

AITT

AITT (Association Industrial Truck Trainers) is the UK’s fastest-growing accredited body that offers workplace transport training. The AITT Operator Registration (ACORNS) scheme was started in 2014 and undergoes a 17-point check to ensure instructor training complies with the relevant standards. HL Training re-joined AITT in 2019, and we now have multiple Cat 1 tutors available.

SafeContractor

SafeContractor is a leading third-party accreditation provider that ensures training courses meet rigorous health and safety management standards. Alcumus SafeContractor is dedicated to helping us protect our instructors and trainees by ensuring we go above and beyond to provide our customers with the best training possible. For the past 6 years, we have gone through vigorous checks and are now proudly SafeContractor accredited.

Register for Accredited Lift Truck Training

Are you ready to upskill your workforce with accredited instructor or operator training? Look no further than HL training. We proudly deliver on-site and in-house training accredited to the UK’s top accrediting bodies. Explore the basics of forklift training by registering for our novice course, or expand your existing knowledge with our fresher courses to ensure you are constantly working to the highest standards possible. Get in touch with us today for more information regarding accredited training.

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