Portable containers: fleet, service orders and dispatch
Set up a container company: sizes, asset tags, delivery and pickup orders, the dispatch board and fees.
1. Choose your business type
In Settings → Business type pick *Portable container company* (containers only) or *Mixed* (a storage property that also rents delivered containers). Container companies get Fleet & Dispatch in the menu instead of the site map. You can switch back any time.
On the same page set your delivery service area (a radius from your yard, plus ZIP codes or cities) and your default service fees (delivery, pickup, relocation, warehouse, final pickup). Fees start at $0 until you set them.
2. Add container sizes and containers
- Fleet → Container sizes & pricing: add the sizes you rent (8, 10, 12, 16, 20 or 40 ft) with a monthly rate. Each size is a normal size in your price list, so promotions, the website and online rentals work as usual.
- Fleet → Add containers: add one container or a batch (for example tags C-101 to C-120). Each container has an asset tag, size, condition and a status (in yard, reserved, out for delivery, at customer, in transit, in warehouse, returning, maintenance, retired).
- Open a container to edit it, see where it is on a map and read its full history.
3. Renting a container
Use Rent this container on a container, or the normal move-in screen. Containers have no gate code. When the rental starts, a drop-off order is created automatically for the move-in date at the renter's address, so it lands on the dispatch board. Monthly rent bills like any other rental.
4. Service orders
A service order is one trip: drop-off, pickup to warehouse, relocation to a new address, return from warehouse, final pickup or other. Each has a date window, driver and truck, address, placement (driveway, street, lot), surface, permit notes, site notes and a fee.
- Dispatch marks it on the way; Complete records who received it (proof of delivery) and updates the container's status and location.
- Add photos on the order page (placement and condition at drop-off or pickup).
- The order fee is invoiced to the renter when the order is completed (untick *bill* to skip), or use Invoice now.
5. Dispatch board
Fleet → Dispatch board shows the next 7 days by day with each driver's stops, plus a *Needs scheduling* list for renter requests without a window. Filter by driver and print the driver sheet from an order.
6. Renter requests
Renters see their container in their portal and can ask for a pickup, relocation, warehouse storage, return or final pickup, or an extension. Requests arrive as service orders with status *requested* and a staff notification; schedule them from the order or the board.
7. Getting found
Your listing appears for Portable containers in marketplace search and on the portable storage pages, including searches inside your service area. Pick the Portable containers website template in Settings → Website template.