A cargo shipping container can be used for a variety of purposes besides transportation. Here are a few ways re-purposed cargo containers are used around the world and in Kentucky.

3 Ways You Can Re-purpose Shipping Containers In Kentucky

Living Spaces

People have been making residences out of shipping containers for years. Homes, apartments, and dorms are all creations that you can build or purchase from companies that convert containers. These residences aren’t just mobile and compact. They can have as many features as you want, including full plumbing, bathrooms, air conditioning, heat, rooftops, porches, and more.

Here in Kentucky, there have been many notable shipping container home projects in the past several years. In 2014, Habitat for Humanity started work on one of the first shipping container homes in Kentucky near Elizabethtown.

Plus, back in 2016, there were plans to build a series of container homes in the Schnitzelburg neighborhood in Louisville (the plans were later scrapped, though). You can even stay in a shipping container cabin in Slade near the Red River Gorge through Airbnb.

Restaurants and Office Spaces

In addition, restaurant and other business owners have re-purposed shipping containers for use. Worldwide, there are pop-up shops in London, England and a container city in Cholula, Mexico, just to name two instances.

In Louisville, a few examples have also sprung up recently. Copper & Kings, a brandy distillery in the Butchertown neighborhood, has used several shipping containers for a boutique and visitor’s center. Plus, Royal’s Chicken’s location in Nulu has shipping containers outside for seating.

Most recently, the initial building for a project called Opportunity Corner in Russell has begun to take form in Louisville. The project will provide office spaces to help grow a self-sustaining space for entrepreneurs and other community members. This project follows in a tradition of using mobile offices as workplaces. Construction professionals have long used storage container offices on-site. They provide the advantage of mobility, sturdiness, and flexible work and storage space.

Shipping Container Farming

Lastly, farmers have used shipping containers to produce food. There are a growing number of companies that make shipping containers for agricultural work. Farmers can grow everything from herbs to leafy greens for industries like nutrition and fragrance.

These container farms offer a few key benefits for farmers. They are readily available, compact, cheap up front, and easy to transport. Many farmers are excited about container farms and see them as a way to produce fresh and local food more readily. However, there are some challenges as well. For one, the environment within the containers can be hard to control. In addition, a container that is too small for the number of farm workers may be difficult to move around in. Plus, overhead can become expensive after the initial container build.

It can certainly take a lot of work and money to make a shipping container a living space or business location. But with the right investment, they have the potential to be a sustainable solution. One thing is for sure: interest in re-purposing these containers has increased over the past few years and shows no sign of stopping.

Moon Trailer Leasing offers shipping containers to companies and organizations across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee. Call 502-776-2199 today for a fast and free quote.

Buying A Used Shipping Container FAQs

Are you interested in buying used shipping containers? Moon Trailer Leasing has been specializing in buying and selling used shipping containers for decades. Many of our customers do not need a new shipping container. These customer typical find that a used shipping container serves their needs while also saving money.

If you are shopping around for shipping containers, you may be interested in learning more about our large selection of used shipping containers available for purchase in Louisville, Kentucky. Here are some answers to the frequently asked questions we get from people shopping around for used containers.

6 Frequently Asked Questions about Used Containers

1. What sizes do your used shipping containers come in?

We have been buying and selling used shipping containers for a very long time. Given this, our inventory includes used shipping containers in a wide variety of sizes. We offer used high cube containers and standard containers. High cube containers are about 1 foot taller and six inches wider than standard containers. They tend to be a popular choice for commercial and industrial clients. We also offer used containers that are either ground level or dock level, depending on your needs.

2. What condition are your used shipping containers in?

We sell shipping containers that are in different conditions. While all of our used shipping containers are still of high quality and built to serve as great storage units, they vary in terms of wear and tear. Some of our containers are what we would call “cargo-worthy.” This is a used cargo container that is certainly capable of storing and transporting cargo. Other used containers are what we call “one trip” containers. If you are interested in purchasing a used shipping container, we can easily describe our selection to you so that you can get a container that fully meets your storage needs.

3. What do the shipping container ratings mean in terms of A, B and C?

Companies that buy and sell used shipping containers sometimes apply different ratings to distinguish between the amount of wear and tear. This may include A, B and C ratings. It is important to note that these types of ratings are not really objective. They are based on the opinion of a particular shipping container dealer, so it is important to work with a company that has a trustworthy reputation and stands by every shipping container sale.

4. What is a used “one trip” shipping container?

A cargo container that is referred to as a “one trip container” is typically one made internationally (usually China) and shipped to the U.S. filled with cargo. After the container arrives in the U.S. it is sold, often times in “like new” condition. While one trip containers have been used, they are typically in excellent condition. Oftentimes they are free of the dings, dents, rust, markings and general wear and tear that older containers with more use have. They are also wind and water tight. These used portable storage containers have a long life ahead of them. Compared to shipping containers that have been around for a longer time, you’ll also find that the color of one trip containers is more predictable. They are usually white, tan or gray.

5. How “used” are used shipping containers?

The answer to this question varies greatly depending on where you purchase your used shipping container. We sell used shipping containers in a variety of grades and conditions. Because of this, we highly recommend a pre-purchase unit inspection in person. You are invited to come out to our storage yard and carefully inspect any storage container unit you are thinking about buying. It’s also important to note that we sell our used containers “as is” so we want you to know exactly what you are purchasing. We price our used shipping containers according to condition and as mentioned previously, all of the used shipping containers that we sell still provide excellent storage capabilities.

6. How many used cargo containers do you have for sale?

The answer to this question depends. Our inventory is constantly changing. We have been selling new and used shipping containers to companies in Kentucky and Southern Indiana for decades so we have a strong network of customers. Depending on demand, time of year, and many other factors, we have a varying number of new and used containers available for purchase. We do spend a lot of time keeping our shipping container inventory stocked so chances are we’ll have just what you need if you give us a call.

For more information about buying used shipping containers from Moon Trailer Leasing in Louisville, Kentucky, give us a call today at 502-776-2199. We’d be glad to answer any of the questions that you have. And if you’re interested we’ll also be happy to schedule a day and time for you to stop by our Louisville conex box storage yard to show you our current inventory.

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3 Ways You Can Re-purpose A Shipping Container In Kentucky