Returning a Container
Record a container collection, set the collected date, and return the status to Available.
1. Locate the container in the On Site list→
2. Open Return action→
3. Enter collected date→
4. Optionally clear location→
5. Save — status changes to Available
1. What returning a container does
Returning a container records that it has been collected from a site and brought back into stock. The status is updated to Available, the collected date is set, and the container becomes available for the next hire. The return event is recorded in the container history log.
2. Return fields
When processing a return, you need to provide the following details.
Return Container
Record a container collection and update its status
2026-03-22
This is the hire end date — the difference between Dropped Date and Collected Date is the hire duration.
Available▾
Set to Available once the container is back in your yard and ready for redeployment.
Any notes about this return...
Confirm Return
Cancel
3. After the return
Once saved, the container moves out of the On Site tab and back into the Available tab. The Collected Date is recorded on the container record and will appear in the CSV export alongside the Dropped Date for hire duration calculation.
Set status to Maintenance if the container needs repair
If the container comes back damaged or requires inspection before the next hire, set the status to Maintenance rather than Available. This prevents it from appearing as ready-to-deploy while it is being repaired.
Hire duration for billing
The Dropped Date and Collected Date together give you the exact number of days on hire. Export the containers CSV and subtract the two dates in a spreadsheet to calculate hire fees for invoicing.
Common Mistakes
• Marking a container as Available before it has actually returned to the yard — this can cause confusion if another booking is made while the container is still in transit.
• Not recording the Collected Date — if you just change the status to Available without setting a collected date, you lose the hire end date for billing purposes.
Field Reference
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Collected Date | No | Date the container was collected from the customer site. |
| Status | No | Update to Available after collection, or Maintenance if the container needs repair before redeployment. |
| Notes | No | Optional notes about the collection, e.g. condition on return or any damage. |
Related Articles
Hiring Out a Container
Record a container deployment to a customer site, set the drop date, and update the status to On Site.
Container Detail
View and edit all details for a single container, update its status, and review its movement history.
Container History
View a chronological audit log of every status change, location update, and hire event for a container.
Containers Overview
Track the location and status of every skip, RoRo, wheelie bin, IBC, and other container in your fleet.