You’ve probably seen shipping containers, aka conex boxes, used for storage on jobsites. If you never thought your company needed a construction storage container for tools, equipment or materials, renting one can quickly change your mind. From saving you time and headaches to preventing theft, here are some of the biggest benefits of renting a secure, heavy-duty jobsite storage container.

1. Convenience and efficiency

Hauling supplies to and from a truck that’s sitting in a distant parking lot takes time that could be spent doing real work. A jobsite storage container can be placed closer to the work area, reducing the amount of time it takes crews to get going in the morning and finish at the end of the day. Not having to load and unload the truck each day saves additional time.

For faster, easier access to what’s inside, a storage container such as the ultra-secure PV3 locking storage container from United Rentals can be customized to fit your needs, helping your teams be more productive. One popular alteration is the addition of cargo doors on the back of the container. With cargo doors, equipment such as a skid steer can be driven right into the container and stored there for security without blocking access to the other storage container contents.

United Rentals can also cut additional doors so an entire side can open. An open side makes it easy to see all the contents at a glance and cuts down on congestion as workers show up to grab or return tools and materials at the beginning and end of their shifts.

2. Improved organization

When crews don’t have to hunt for the tools or materials they need, work happens faster. Containers can be customized with pipe racks and shelving to keep assets organized and easy to locate. Locking cages for storing paints, gases or propane restrict access and increase safety.

Lights can be added to rental storage containers for added convenience and safety, or you can rent a container with built-in solar lights.

3. Security against theft

Security is perhaps the most important benefit of a locked jobsite storage container. Any veteran contractor or subcontractor knows that theft on worksites is rampant: Who hasn’t arrived at a site to find that supplies, hand tools or even a track loader has gone missing? Thieves have even been known to siphon the diesel out of equipment.

Storing valuable items securely on the jobsite overnight also helps prevent the theft of these items from work trucks, which can be temping targets for neighborhood thieves.

Just make sure your construction storage container truly is secure. A traditional padlock can be removed by a sophisticated thief. United Rentals’ PV3 containers feature a hard-to-defeat lock system in the form of a solid brass lock with interior locking rods and a hardened steel pin. To limit which of your team members can enter the unit, you can place a padlock of your own on the container and reserve the keys for yourself and perhaps a trusted lieutenant.

4. Protection from the elements

Construction jobsites aren’t known for their cleanliness, and dirt and dust accumulation can impact the operational readiness of tools as well as generators and heavy equipment. Exposure to rain can harm lumber and other expensive materials and rust metal tools and equipment.

Storing critical assets in a weatherproof onsite storage container protects your investments and helps ensure that tools and materials are not only there when you need them but in excellent condition.

5. Cost savings

The financial impact of jobsite theft goes well beyond the cost of replacing stolen goods. There’s the lost time and productivity, and the possibility of increased insurance premiums. A locking construction storage container significantly reduces the chances of theft.

Another money-saving benefit: Driving an empty truck back and forth to the jobsite instead of a truck weighed down with tools and materials, such as loads of conduit, conserves fuel with every trip. That goes double if you’re hauling heavy equipment.

Renting a 10-foot, 20-foot or 40-foot construction storage container and having it delivered right to the jobsite and picked up when you’re finished is a smart, affordable way to increase productivity and security and potentially save money—a win for you, your team and your clients.

Browse our storage containers for rent or contact one of our storage container and mobile office experts to find a storage container that fits your needs.