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Buy a one trip shipping container

New containers are often referred to as
“one trip containers”

Almost 98% of the shipping containers built worldwide, are manufactured in China. So almost all new containers have made “one trip” overseas from a factory in China to its final destination.

As overseas shipping costs can outweigh the cost of the container itself, new containers are always loaded for their one trip on a container vessel. This process is standardized globally and loading the container with cargo helps cover the cost of shipping. This is why one trip containers are as close to “new” as available in the market.

One trip containers are in almost perfect condition inside and out. They meet internationally approved ISO quality standards and are in the best condition available on the market.

Journey of a one trip container

Every new container has made one trip, loaded with cargo, on a container vessel to arrive at its destination. As you can imagine, there are many steps along the way in a process that can generally take from 60 – 90 days.

1

The first step is the manufacturing of the new container in a factory.

2

Once manufactured, the empty container is inspected and loaded by a container handler onto a truck.

3

The truck will travel to another manufacturer who will proceed to load cargo inside the container. After loading, the truck will transport the loaded container to the port.

4

The container will be loaded with a crane onto a container vessel where it can be stacked amongst hundreds of other containers, and sail to its destination port.

5

Canadian logistics relies heavily on the railway to move containers across the country. Most container vessels arrive at the Port of Vancouver. They are unloaded by crane and loaded onto the rail for transport to Canada's metropolitan cities.

6

On arrival at its destination city, a crane is used to transfer the loaded container from rail to truck. The truck delivers the cargo which is unloaded with a forklift. The empty container will return to an ATS depot to be offloaded, inspected & stacked using machinery. When a container is sold, it will be handled by machinery to load it onto the delivery truck.

Buy a one trip shipping container

New shipping containers
are pretty, but not perfect.

As explained, a new container has a complex one trip journey with many points of loading and unloading along the way from factory to end point. Every time a shipping container is handled, there can be visible signs of wear and tear. These can be from the container handlers, forklifts loading and unloading the cargo, cranes, etc and may result in one or more of the following:

  • minor dents on the roof and/or side walls
  • scratches on the corner posts
  • small markings inside the container
  • forklifts loading and unloading the containers can also leave marks on the container floor

All of these signs of wear and tear are considered normal for one trip or like new containers.

Benefits of buying a
one trip container

One trip containers are in the best condition available on the market worldwide. As a result, they will have a longer useful life than their used container counterparts.

Condition

While minor aesthetic wear and tear should be expected, they will look in near perfect condition and require no maintenance. Once placed on level ground and evenly loaded, one trip containers doors will open easily. The lockbox that is included on all ATS one trip containers is an added security feature to protect the contents stored inside.

Sustainable

New containers are at the forefront of technological advances in materials and manufacturing processes. Container flooring on one trip units continues to evolve to ensure material sustainability. New eco flooring options are available that minimize environmental impacts compared to flooring materials on used cargo containers.

Eco friendly

Another feature that has been available on new containers is that they are factory-painted with waterborne paint compared to solvent based paint for containers built before 2017. New innovations in waterborne paint and paint application are providing the equivalent ISO paint standard while minimizing harmful volatile organic compounds emitted during application.

Resale value

Another consideration for buying a one trip container is the resale value. The long lifespan of the new container will maintain its good condition and retain a high resale value should you wish to dispose of the storage container in the future.

Buy a 20ft one-trip container

One of the most common inquiries is purchasing a 20’ one-trip shipping container. This is the most popular container size in circulation due to its durability, stackability, cost-effectiveness, and suitability for most spaces. For detailed specifications and purchasing options for our 20 ft new containers, explore our dedicated 20ft New Containers page.

Buy a 40ft one-trip container

If you are considering the purchase of a 40’ one-trip shipping container, it’s worth noting that buying one 40ft container can be more economical than acquiring two 20 ft containers. The 40’ size not only provides greater cargo storage capacity but is also available in a high cube (‘HC’) variant, offering an additional foot in storage height (9’6”H). To discover more about these spacious and efficient containers, delve into our 40ft New High Cube Containers’ page for further information.

Buy specialized one trip container

The market for specialized one-trip containers is continually expanding, catering to a wide array of specific needs. This is particularly relevant for those looking to buy a one trip reefer container for cold storage or a chemical storage container with an integrated spill basin for hazardous materials containment. The variety of specialized options is wide, including features like side door openings, reefer containers, double-door containers, and more. ATS offers a comprehensive selection of these specialized one-trip containers in Toronto and Montreal. For more detailed information about our 40ft new refrigerated containers and other specialized options, visit our 40ft New Refrigerated Containers page.