Tips for Renting Shipping Containers | LOTUS Containers

Maritime shipping containers are highly demanded products due to their resilience and versatile utility. However, buying them can mean a hefty investment. The average price range of cargo containers varies between a few thousand dollars. It is not always feasible to buy them if the required duration is a seasonal or short period. So, as an alternative people can rent shipping containers with a suitable term plan.

Hiring shipping containers can prove to be a more cost-effective solution than buying in case of short-term requirements. However, long-term leasing can be very costly and offers a less flexible solution. What are the things you should consider while renting containers? Here are a few tips for cargo box rental to make the whole process easier for you.

How frequently do you need them?

First and foremost, analyze the frequency of your requirement for metal shipping containers. If you need them throughout the year, renting them might be a very costly choice. But, if you need them for short-term or one-way trips, leasing can be a cost-effective and affordable solution. Container leasing can be a cost-effective solution if you need shipping units for seasonal trade as well.

What is your budget?

Now that you have calculated how frequently you need the cargo units, let's calculate the price you can afford to pay. The budget decides the most important aspect of the renting agreement. With an accurate budget plan, you can compare and choose the most suitable package.

Choose the Right Plan

With the budget settled down, choosing the right plan can help with utility flexibility and overall cost optimization. There are a number of plans available in the market. Each plan has its own pros and cons before you settle down for a plan, compare them for the best option.

Master Lease Agreement

Master lease agreement (MLA) is a flexible solution for traders who deal with short-term and seasonal trade. Under this plan traders can receive the maritime boxes at the point of discharge or at a location of their choice.

Long Term Lease and Lease Purchase

Long Term Lease (LTL) and Lease Purchase (LP) plans are suitable for fixed duration periods. In case there is a ship departure delay, they can extend the agreement period. The traders can receive the freight boxes at the place of their choice.

One Way Lease

One Way Lease (OWL) is one of the most cost-effective and flexible solutions for renting especially for regional needs. The buyer can receive the metal shipping containers at the point of discharge.

Now, you can compare each package and choose the one that suits you, or you can consult with LOTUS Containers to understand the terms better.

Storage facility

Another most important step to rent shipping containers is to invest in a storage facility if you are not leasing for a one-way trip. In case you face a temporary storage bottleneck in the port or ship delay you may have to store your goods in a storage facility. If there is a storage crisis near the port, you may consider keeping your goods outside the port storage facility. However, in that case, you may need a special storage permit from the local authority. All this means extra cost added to your logistics.

Quality Assurance

While hiring freight containers it is absolutely mandatory that you get quality assurance. Along with looking for Google or social media reviews, you must also go for personal network references as they all are quite good options for quality assurance. But in case, you do not get to check through the aforementioned steps. You can ask for referrals from the company you are renting from. They should not have any problem if they have no hidden agendas.

Physical Testing

It is necessary to test if the steel shipping container is weatherproofed or not. A leaky or rusty container can damage the quality of your goods during transport. You can either hire an independent party or get the associated test service from the company you are making the purchase from.

Renting is most often the choice for traders for the flexibility and low-cost solution it provides. With LOTUS Containers, you can rent cargo containers easily. We bring all types of leasing plans to cater to your needs. Other than this, we provide freight containers of all types like pallet wide, flat rack, reefer, and others in all container dimensions. So, whether you need to buy new shipping containers in Miami, or looking for second-hand containers for sale in California, Nebraska, Florida, and other parts of the USA and the world you know you just have to contact us to be free from all worries.