What WWT, Cargo Worthy and One Trip tell you
Use the label to identify the claim you need to check. These terms do not form one universal grading scale.
| Description in the offer | Claim to clarify | Evidence that matters |
|---|---|---|
| WWT — wind and watertight | The seller describes a container that keeps out wind and rain. Previous repairs or cosmetic wear may be allowed. | The written weather-tightness scope, evidence of door and seal condition, and findings on holes, leaks and repairs. |
| Cargo Worthy — CW | The seller describes condition suitable for cargo service under its stated criteria. | A unit-linked condition report, its inspection criteria and any unfinished repairs. Check transport documents and acceptance separately. |
| One Trip | Common US sales usage describes a container brought from overseas with one cargo load before sale. Handling marks can still be present. | The seller's written use-history description and condition terms, plus evidence for the unit allocated to the order. |
Choose the evidence your use needs
- Stationary storage: compare whether each offer documents weather resistance, usable doors and the floor condition your contents need. Decide which cosmetic defects you can accept. A more impressive label does not resolve a missing door or floor assessment.
- Cargo transport: add the applicable safety approval, examination status and the intended transporter's acceptance requirements. Resolve these for the planned movement before relying on a seller's cargo-worthy description.
- Conversion: have the proposed shell and any damage or repairs assessed for the project. A sales grade does not establish suitability for the finished building or its modifications.
Match the report to the unit and the work performed
A report headed “inspected” is useful only when you can tell what it covers.
First establish whether the offer identifies a particular container or promises a unit from a category. For an identified unit, match its container number across the offer, photos and report. A sample photo can show the seller's intended appearance range; it cannot show the condition of a different unit.
Some sellers allocate the container later. Record when its identity and condition evidence will become available, which written selection criteria apply, and what happens if the allocated unit differs from those criteria. Compare that process between offers instead of assuming every sale includes advance selection of a specific container.
An inspector's credentials describe the person. They do not establish a result for your container. IICL inspector certification, for example, is distinct from a CSC examination; IICL states that its certification is not mandatory to carry out that examination.
- Date and stage: when was the inspection performed, and was it before or after the repairs now included in the offer?
- Criteria: which inspection criteria or manual, and which edition where applicable, did the examiner use? Does the report state a result against those criteria?
- Examiner and scope: who performed the inspection, which areas were examined, and which areas or checks were excluded or inaccessible?
- Changes since inspection: which repairs, damage or alterations occurred afterward, and what updated evidence covers them?
Compare what the condition evidence actually covers
Use the same four lines for both offers. A photograph records what is visible in that view; an operating check or examination answers a different question.
Keep “not examined” and “no defect found” separate in your comparison. If an essential area is outside the report's scope, record the missing check instead of treating the report as a complete pass.
| Condition area | Useful evidence | What remains unresolved without it |
|---|---|---|
| Doors and seals | A recorded open-close-lock check and views of hinges, locking gear and gasket condition. | A closed-door photo does not show how the doors operate or whether seals were examined. |
| Floor | Findings on damage, repairs, protrusions, staining and any areas hidden from view. | A doorway photo may leave the far end or covered areas unexamined. Appearance alone does not establish suitability for a particular cargo or load. |
| Corrosion and structure | Findings that locate corrosion and damage on the frame, walls and roof, with the inspection criteria used. | A distant photo or fresh finish cannot settle the extent of damage. Do not rate structural condition from color alone. |
| Repairs and weather resistance | The repair locations, work included, completion record and relevant follow-up checks. | A promise to repair is still pending work. A photo of a patch alone does not establish whether it was checked for leaks. |
For transport, keep three records separate
For an international cargo movement, a seller's condition report is one part of the evidence. Compare these additional records for the actual unit and intended journey:
- Safety approval: identify the CSC safety approval plate and its relationship to the container offered. A photograph of the plate records its markings; it does not establish the unit's present physical condition.
- Examination status: identify the applicable scheme. Under periodic examination, check the next examination date. Under an Approved Continuous Examination Program (ACEP), confirm the applicable program and the unit's status under it, including after sale. An old marking alone does not answer those questions.
- Transport acceptance: confirm the intended carrier's requirements for the unit, cargo and movement. Establish which documents or photos it needs and whether acceptance is confirmed or still pending. Requirements can depend on the carrier; a seller's label does not complete this step.
Put both offers on the same written terms
Make a separate column for Offer A and Offer B in your comparison notes. Complete the following record for each, using the seller's actual wording and the date of the offer.
| Comparison point | Record for each offer | Decision it supports |
|---|---|---|
| Unit and evidence | Specific unit number or allocation stage; photo/report references and dates; unexamined areas. | Can you assess the unit now, or are you comparing a documented selection process? |
| Permitted defects | Which dents, corrosion, floor damage, marks and previous repairs the seller allows within the quoted condition. | Do both offers meet the same requirements, despite different grade names? |
| Work included | The particular repairs promised, who performs them, completion stage and evidence to be provided afterward. | Is the quoted condition already documented or dependent on unfinished work? |
| Written coverage and exclusions | The condition commitments, any warranty scope and duration, exclusions and reporting requirements. | Which problems does the seller actually agree to address? |
| Allocation or substitution | When a unit is allocated, whether substitution is allowed, and what condition and evidence requirements apply to a replacement. | Would a replacement still meet the requirements you used to choose? |
| Discrepancies at receipt | How and when to report a mismatch, what evidence is requested, who decides the response, and the agreed responsibility for repair or transport costs. | Is there a defined response if the received unit differs from the written order? |
Choose using the complete comparison
Consider a hypothetical storage comparison: one WWT offer includes a dated unit report with door and floor findings, while a CW offer supplies only sample photos and no inspection scope. The first offer gives you more condition evidence to assess. That does not prove its container is physically better. The next step is to establish what evidence and written commitments the second offer will provide.
Choose against your essential requirements, then compare the remaining work and obligations. Keep an unpriced repair, inspection or remedial delivery cost marked as unresolved; do not enter zero. Any remedy or warranty in this record must come from the actual agreement.
Use the size-and-condition product pages below for product details and buying options. The buying guide covers the wider purchase process; the scam guide covers seller and payment verification.