Inspect the equipment · Canada guide
Inspect a used shipping container before buying
Condition names describe a seller’s offer; they do not replace an inspection of the unit you will receive. Record defects and unresolved questions before paying.
Reviewed
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Match the photos to the actual unit
Ask for the container number, current photographs, storage location and written condition description. Establish whether the quotation reserves that unit or allows a substitute. Request the relevant inspection record if freight use is intended.
One-trip containers can have handling marks. Wind-and-watertight storage condition is different from a current cargo-worthy inspection, and neither makes a container an approved occupied building.
For international transport, Canada’s Safe Containers Convention Regulations address approval, the Safety Approval Plate, safe condition and examinations. Ask for the actual unit’s current examination status and acceptance for your proposed shipment; the mere presence of a CSC plate or a seller’s grade is not enough.
Your project record · no automatic assessment
Keep a used-container inspection and receipt record
Record what is known about this unit and what needs follow-up. This is a buyer's evidence checklist, not a structural survey, certification or an acceptance verdict.
Start with what you know; leave the rest unknown. Entries stay in this tab until you choose to copy, download or open the quote form. Refreshing clears them. Do not enter confidential or sensitive information.
Include units with your measurements: ft/in for lengths, sq ft for areas, cu ft for volumes and lb for masses. Use °C for temperatures in either mode. Your free-text notes keep the units you entered when the display preference changes.
Container number if allocated; otherwise the order reference and agreed condition category.
Keep a dated copy before purchase and another on receipt.
Distinguish actual-unit evidence from example stock pictures.
Include weather and any areas that could not be inspected safely.
Dry storage, sensitive goods, planned conversion or international transport; specify loads separately.
Who receives discrepancy reports, the agreed reporting process and promised repairs.
Checks and evidence to keep
Record who said what, the date and a document or photo reference. “Evidence noted” does not verify a claim; explain any “not applicable” choice.
9 checks unknown or unverified; 0 marked for follow-up. These counts do not score the project or decide whether to proceed.
Preview: notes carried into the quote form
Review this text before continuing. You can edit it in the form; opening the form does not submit a request.
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View or select the complete record
The summary is added to the quote-form URL when you follow the link and may appear in browser history. Container quantity is left for you to check in that form. This tool sends no enquiry, email or supplier notification.
Review doors, seals, steel and flooring
Check hinges, locking bars, gaskets and whether the doors operate without excessive force. Review visible corrosion, roof dents, weld repairs, corner fittings, floor damage and staining. Ask about repairs and previous cargo where relevant.
Do not climb on a roof or go beneath a suspended unit to inspect it. Unknown cargo, cleaning or fumigation history requires a hazard assessment before entry or cleaning. Absence of odour, residue or a warning label does not establish a safe atmosphere. Depending on its condition and use, a container may fall under confined-space requirements; a competent person must assess the hazards and applicable workplace rules before entry.
Write down the acceptance criteria
Record required repairs, who performs them, when they will be checked and what happens if the delivered unit differs from the agreement. Specify whether paint, locks, transport and unloading are included. Keep dated photographs and a handover record.
Ask for evidence by inspection area
Use the existing inspection record to attach observations to the actual unit or the agreed supply category. If an area cannot be examined safely, leave it unresolved and ask the seller for suitable evidence. Photographs and a grade name do not establish hidden condition.
| Area | Evidence to request |
|---|---|
| Frame and corner fittings | Clear views of dents, corrosion, alignment and repairs; assessment of suspected structural damage |
| Roof and wall panels | Safe inspection photographs, repair locations and any weather-tightness test details |
| Doors and seals | Operation demonstrated, hinge and locking-bar condition, gasket damage and replacement work |
| Floor | Panel damage, stains, patches and confirmation of suitability for the proposed loads |
| Underside | Seller's safe inspection record where it cannot be viewed from ground level |
| Interior and previous use | Available cargo, cleaning and treatment records, with any unknown history identified |
Repeat the relevant checks after placement
Match the delivered unit or condition category to the order. Record visible discrepancies and check door operation once the container is positioned safely. Stiff doors can require investigation of the unit and its support arrangement; do not assume the cause from appearance alone.
Send the seller a dated list under the agreed reporting procedure. Separate cosmetic items from repairs affecting the intended use, and obtain a written resolution before treating an outstanding repair as completed.
- Record whether the photos were of the allocated unit or examples.
- List promised repairs and evidence of completion.
- Keep the order, delivery record and follow-up together.
Questions before buying a used container
Does fresh paint prove good condition?
No. Check the steel, repairs, seals and floor, and obtain a written condition description for the actual unit.
Does a dent always rule out a used container?
No. Ask whether it affects structure, weather resistance, doors or your proposed use. Appearance alone cannot determine whether repair or further assessment is needed.
What if the seller supplies the next suitable unit rather than one I inspect?
Agree the written condition criteria, permitted differences, inspection evidence and discrepancy procedure before ordering. Example photographs should not be treated as photographs of your allocated unit.