How much room do I need for a container delivery?
Plan on about 40 feet of clear, straight space measured along the path the truck will use. That is the 16-foot container plus about 24 feet of truck behind it while the driver sets it down.
The word doing the most work in that sentence is straight. The truck delivers in a line, so 40 feet of driveway that bends around a garage is not the same as 40 feet of straight approach. If your space is close to the limit or curves, tell us before delivery day and we will help you plan the placement.
What kind of surface do you need?
Firm and mostly level is the standard. A paved driveway is ideal, compacted gravel works well, and solid ground is usually fine when it is dry and stable.
What causes trouble in North Central Ohio is soft ground after a wet spring or a spring thaw, freshly poured or sealed asphalt, and steep grades. A gentle slope is generally workable; a pronounced one makes it harder to set the container level and harder to load safely. If you are unsure, send a photo of the spot when you request a quote.
How much overhead clearance is needed?
The container has to travel in on the truck, so overhead obstacles matter along the entire approach, not just at the drop spot. Keep the path clear of anything hanging over it.
Common culprits: low tree branches, utility and service lines running to the house, basketball hoops, garage eaves, roof overhangs, and carports. Branches are the most frequent one and the easiest to fix — trimming them back a few days ahead usually solves it. We keep the guidance qualitative on purpose; if you have a specific low branch or wire, describe it and we will tell you whether it is a problem.
Measure before we arrive: a quick checklist
Ten minutes with a tape measure prevents almost every delivery-day surprise:
- Measure about 40 feet of straight, clear length along the truck's approach and the drop spot.
- Check the width of the approach — the truck needs meaningful room on both sides, not just container width. Watch for retaining walls, mailboxes, fence posts, and landscaping edges.
- Look up along the whole path for branches, wires, hoops, and eaves.
- Confirm the surface is firm and reasonably level where the container will sit.
- Move cars, trailers, boats, and trash cans out of the lane the morning of delivery — including the street in front, if the truck needs to swing in.
- Note any tight turn from the street into the driveway, and tell us about it in advance.
- Take two photos, one from the street and one from the drop spot, and send them with your quote request.
Where do people usually put them?
Three placements cover nearly every delivery we do around Mansfield, Ontario, Lexington, and Shelby.
- The driveway — most common for moves, remodels, and staging. Easiest access, shortest carry from the house.
- The side yard or beside the garage — good when you want it out of listing photos or out of the way for months, provided the ground is firm and the approach is straight.
- A business or job-site lot — usually the simplest deliveries we do, since commercial lots have room to maneuver and a clear surface.
What if my driveway is short or tight?
Do not assume it is a no. We have delivered to plenty of older Mansfield-area properties with short driveways and narrow approaches, and there is often a workable answer: a different angle, placement closer to the street, using a side yard, or staging the container on the level part of the lot.
If your property genuinely will not take a delivery, we would rather find that out from a photo than from a truck. Call or text 844-644-STOR (7867), email info@mobistor.me, or send photos with your quote request and we will assess it before you book.
A note on placement rules
Placement on your own driveway or lot is generally straightforward. Placing a container on a public street or right-of-way is a different matter, and some municipalities and homeowners associations have their own rules about how long a container can sit visible out front.
Check with your city or township and your HOA if you are planning a long rental or a street placement. If a driveway container is not workable for that reason, we can pick the loaded container up and store it at our Mansfield yard instead.
Frequently asked questions
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