Container Sideloading Delivery from Felixstowe

We are often asked if we can provide a container sideloading option out of Felixstowe. Many importers bring in machinery, plant equipment and long or heavy goods that cannot be unloaded on a standard loading bay or by forklift.

Through one of our specialist partners, we can provide a container sideloading trailer service that allows your shipping container to be safely lowered directly onto the ground at your premises. This makes it possible to access the container at floor level, ideal where there is no dock, no ramp and limited unloading infrastructure.

This service is specifically designed for customers importing machinery, indivisible loads and awkward cargo that needs to be dragged, rolled or skated out of the container rather than lifted.

What is Container Sideloading

Container sideloading uses a specialist lifting trailer which can raise and lower a fully loaded ISO container to ground level. Instead of tipping or lifting from the rear, the container is placed flat onto the floor surface so doors can be opened and goods removed safely at ground height.

This method is commonly used for:

Imported machinery and plant equipment
Long loads that cannot be forked out
Heavy indivisible items
Equipment that must be pulled out rather than lifted
Deliveries to sites without loading bays
Premises with low overhead clearance
Warehouses without dock levellers

Why Importers Ask for This Service from Felixstowe

Felixstowe handles a high volume of machinery and specialist equipment imports. Many of these deliveries are made to industrial units, farms, workshops and construction sites that simply do not have unloading facilities. Common situations we deal with:

No loading bay

No forklift on site

Low headroom

Uneven or restricted access

Heavy machinery arriving loose in the container

Long items that cannot be safely lifted

In these cases, sideloading is often the safest and most practical solution.

How the Sideloading Process Works

1. Your container is collected from Felixstowe as normal

2. The specialist lifting trailer transports it to your premises

3. The trailer lowers the container directly onto the ground

4. The container remains stable and level

5. Doors are opened and goods can be accessed at floor height

6. Machinery can be dragged, rolled or skated out safely

7. Once unloading is complete, the container is lifted back onto the trailer

This avoids the risks associated with unstable lifting or makeshift unloading methods.

Trailer Capability and Technical Overview

Our partner uses specialist lifting equipment based on industry-standard container sideloading trailers such as the Megalift system.

These trailers are engineered for heavy-duty industrial use and provide:

Controlled hydraulic lifting and lowering
Stable placement of containers onto the ground
Ability to handle standard ISO containers
Operation on uneven or restricted sites
High load capacity suitable for machinery imports
Precise positioning for confined locations

Typical working capabilities include:

Lifting containers weighing up to approximately 30–32 tonnes gross
Lifting height sufficient to raise containers from transport position
Safe ground placement for full access to container doors
Compatibility with 20ft and 40ft containers

We do not sell the trailer itself. We provide access to this capability as part of a complete transport and delivery solution.

Ideal Cargo for Sideloading

This service is particularly suited to:

CNC machines
Industrial lathes
Agricultural machinery
Generators
Construction plant
Processing equipment
Fabricated steel items
Long engineering components
Heavy indivisible loads

If your goods cannot be lifted safely with a forklift or need to be pulled out at ground level, sideloading is normally the correct option.

Coverage and Routing

We provide container sideloading deliveries from Felixstowe to sites across:

Suffolk
Essex
Norfolk
Cambridgeshire
Kent
London
Midlands and wider UK

This is ideal for importers who have arranged shipping but need a practical, on-site unloading solution.

Why Use Transport Equipment Services

Experienced with machinery and abnormal cargo
Strong Felixstowe port knowledge
Reliable specialist partners
Real-world understanding of site constraints
Practical solutions, not theoretical ones
One contact point for collection and delivery

We focus on getting your container delivered and unloaded safely, not selling equipment.

Contact Us for Sideloading Solutions

If you are importing machinery or heavy equipment through Felixstowe and need the container placed onto the floor at your premises, speak to us. We will assess access, surface conditions and cargo type and advise if sideloading is the correct solution.

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