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How to Inspect a Used Shipping Container at Delivery
This guide walks through what happens before your container arrives, what to check on delivery day, and what the inspection form means for you.
Every container Eveon delivers is inspected before it leaves the depot and backed by a wind and watertight guarantee. The inspection you complete with your driver on delivery day is one of the most important steps in the process. It confirms the container meets Eveon's quality standards at the time of delivery, protects you as the customer, and serves as the starting point for your [Limited Lifetime Warranty](https://www.eveoncontainers.com/en-US/about/eveon-guarantee) coverage on purchased containers.
## Before the Container Arrives: The Depot Inspection
Every container is inspected by the driver at the depot before loading. The driver inspects both the inside and outside of the container before it is loaded onto the truck. If the container does not meet Eveon's wind and watertight standard, the driver will refuse it.
Before setting out, your driver will call you with an estimated arrival time. Make sure someone is available to receive the container on delivery day, as the inspection is a joint process that requires your presence.
Your job before delivery day is to make sure your site is ready. A properly prepared site is not just a logistics requirement. It directly affects how your container performs once it's placed. Uneven or soft ground can cause the container to shift and flex, which makes doors difficult or impossible to open. Review the full [delivery requirements](https://www.eveoncontainers.com/en-US/resources/delivery-requirements) before your container arrives to confirm your site meets the access, clearance, and ground condition standards.
## Delivery Day: Inspecting Together
When the driver arrives, the container is placed on the desired spot first. Then the inspection begins as a joint process. Both you and the driver will complete the Inspection Form together, take a minimum of five photos covering the doors, left and right sides, back, and interior, and note any details before the driver leaves the site. Take this time seriously. Once the form is signed, you are legally acknowledging that the container was delivered in the condition described. Any swap or return requested after signing will be subject to transport fees for both the return and redelivery.
If something does not look right, raise it with the driver before signing. This is the moment to reject the container and request a replacement, not after the truck has left.
### What to Inspect Upon Delivery:
#### 1. Wind and Watertight Condition
Step inside the container and close the doors. Look for any visible light coming through the walls, roof, or floor. A [wind and watertight container](https://www.eveoncontainers.com/en-US/about/eveon-guarantee) will show no daylight from the interior.
#### 2. Floor Condition
Walk the full length of the floor. It should feel solid underfoot with no soft or spongy sections. Patches are acceptable and do not affect performance. Delamination may be present, but should not exceed multiple layers. What to look for is any area where the floor shows a hole through to the undercarriage, or where delamination is severe enough to feel unstable. Cross members visible from outside should show no broken welds. Learn more about [shipping container floors](https://www.eveoncontainers.com/en-US/news/market-insights/what-is-a-container-made-of).
#### 3. Door Hardware
Check the locking bars, cam keepers, and door handles. The lock rods should rotate to open and close, engaging and releasing the cams from their keepers. Rods may show minor bends or cosmetic wear from their time at sea, but they should be fully functional. The door handle should sit correctly in its bracket.
#### 4. Seals
Inspect the door gaskets around the full perimeter of both doors. Seals should be intact and seated properly with no visible sections missing or pulled away from the door frame. Intact seals are what keep rain and wind out.
#### 5. Door Operation
Open and fully extend both doors. Container doors are heavy and the hinges may be stiff. Some resistance is normal. What matters is that the doors open fully, close properly, and that the locking bars rotate and engage the cam keepers without issue. If the container is placed on uneven ground, door operation can be affected. This is why site preparation matters before delivery. Learn more about [shipping container doors](https://www.eveoncontainers.com/en-US/news/market-insights/understanding-and-maintaining-shipping-container-doors).
## What to Expect from a Used Container
Used containers are retired from ocean service after 10 to 13 years at sea. Surface rust, dents, patches, scratches, and faded paint are all normal characteristics of a used Corten steel container and do not affect structural performance or wind and watertight condition. Eveon selects containers based on condition and structural integrity rather than cosmetic appearance, so color will vary.
The inspection focuses on structural soundness and wind and watertight integrity. A container can show significant weathering on the outside and still perform exactly as intended.
Completing the Inspection Form
Eveon's Inspection Form has two parts. Part 1 is completed by the driver at the depot before loading. It records the driver's information, your information as the recipient, the order number, and the container identification.
Part 2 is completed jointly by you and the driver at your property. It covers the five inspection points above and includes four additional confirmation questions:
- whether the container is placed in a dry and level location
- whether the delivery area and driveway were clear of obstacles
- whether you walked around and inside the entire container with the driver
- whether you accept the container as it is
The final question is the customer's acknowledgment. By initialing it, you confirm you are accepting the container in its current condition.
By signing the form, you acknowledge that the container was delivered in good working condition as described. Any concerns or issues should be noted on the form before signing. If the container does not meet the wind and watertight standard, raise it with the driver before the form is signed so a replacement can be arranged without additional transport costs.
## After Delivery: Your Warranty Coverage
Signing the inspection form is the starting point for your [Limited Lifetime Warranty](https://www.eveoncontainers.com/en-US/about/eveon-guarantee) coverage on purchased containers. Even after signing, Eveon stands behind the quality of every container sold.
In the first 365 days, if your container is found to be not wind and watertight, Eveon will reimburse the reasonable cost of repairs by a qualified welder, provide an industry-standard repair patch, or swap the container. After day 366, Eveon will send a repair patch at no cost. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, damage from impacts or accidents after delivery, or containers that have been modified before the wind and watertight condition was confirmed.
If you discover an issue after delivery, contact Eveon's customer care team at [888-489-7585](tel:888-489-7585) or [info.usa@eveoncontainers.com](mailto:info.usa@eveoncontainers.com), or submit a claim through the [container issue form](https://www.eveoncontainers.com/en-US/guarantee-issue). Eveon asks that any issue be reported within 5 business days of delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
- If you inspect the container with the driver and find it does not meet the wind and watertight standard, you can reject it before signing the inspection form. The driver will return the container to the depot and Eveon will arrange a replacement.
- If a problem is discovered after delivery, contact Eveon's customer care team as soon as possible. Submit a claim through the [container issue form](https://www.eveoncontainers.com/en-US/guarantee-issue) with photos or video of the issue. Eveon's operations team will review the claim and provide a solution within 3-5 business days.
- Signing the inspection form confirms the container was delivered in acceptable condition and starts your Limited Lifetime Warranty coverage. It does not waive your warranty rights. If a wind and watertight issue develops after delivery, Eveon will address it under the terms of the warranty for the life of the container. Read the full warranty coverage details on the [Eveon Guarantee page](https://www.eveoncontainers.com/en-US/about/eveon-guarantee).
- Container doors are heavy by design, and some stiffness in the hinges is normal on used units. If a door is truly difficult to open rather than just stiff, the most common cause is an unlevel foundation. When a container is not sitting level, the steel frame flexes slightly, which can bind the door operation. Ensuring your site is properly leveled before delivery prevents this. Review the [delivery requirements](https://www.eveoncontainers.com/en-US/resources/delivery-requirements) for foundation and ground condition guidance.