Operate a Vanta-certified container depot.
We're expanding beyond our four flagship depots. If you operate a secure, paved container yard with reach-stacker capacity, partner with us and monetize idle capacity through guaranteed throughput contracts.
Committed monthly TEU volumes with take-or-pay minimums.
Earn on storage, gate moves, inspections, and modifications.
Actively sourcing depots in LATAM, West Africa, SE Asia, and Nordics.
Get our depot management SOPs and yard OS at no cost.
Minimum qualifications
- 2+ acres of paved, drained, fenced yard within 50km of a major port or rail terminal.
- At least one reach-stacker or top-lifter rated for loaded 40ft units.
- Bonded status or ability to obtain customs bonded designation.
- Insurance coverage: minimum USD 5M general liability + cargo.
- Existing crew with IICL inspection certification (or willingness to train).
- Reliable 24/7 gate operations with CCTV and access-controlled entry.
Revenue streams for certified depots
Per-TEU per-day rates with 60% guaranteed minimum utilization.
Lift-on / lift-off fees, drayage staging, chassis pool management.
IICL surveys, wash, repair, and pre-trip inspections billed per event.
Approved yards run branded mod-shops for shipping-container conversions.
Revenue-share on the Vanta yard OS deployed at your facility.
Host buyer walk-throughs and video inspections - billed per visit.
What you get when you join
Our depot management platform - gate ins/outs, inventory, EDI, damage reports, invoicing. Deployed and supported at no cost.
Monthly TEU commitments backed by take-or-pay clauses. You earn even if unit flow slows.
Your facility appears on our Locations page and inventory API - buyers can pick up direct from your yard.
Full playbook covering safety, IICL inspection, storage stacking, mod-shop procedures, and dispute handling.
Auto-plug into 40+ partner yards for chassis swaps and repositioning moves.
Dedicated network development manager, quarterly business reviews, and joint growth planning.
Onboarding roadmap
Submit form. We review location, equipment, and coverage in 7 days.
Our network team visits, audits, and scores against Vanta standards.
Gap remediation, SOP training, Yard OS install. Typically 4-8 weeks.
First stock arrives, invoicing enabled, revenue starts month one.
Depot operator FAQ
Do I keep my existing customers?
Yes. Vanta certification is non-exclusive - you continue serving your existing book while adding Vanta throughput.
Who owns the containers on my yard?
Stock remains Vanta's until sold. You act as bailee under a standard depot services agreement.
What's the revenue split?
Storage and handling fees follow published Vanta rate cards. Modifications and inspections split 70/30 in your favor.
Do I need to buy equipment?
No mandatory purchases. If your fleet is thin, we can lease-in reach-stackers or forklifts at wholesale rates.
How long is the agreement?
Initial term is 24 months, auto-renewing annually. 90-day termination for cause on either side.
How certified depots earn
Four revenue streams stack on top of your existing yard business - no exclusivity, no lock-in.
Per-TEU per-day billed by Vanta, remitted monthly at published rate card.
Inbound / outbound lifts booked through the Vanta portal. Paid net-15.
Approved workshops keep 70% of modification revenue; Vanta handles the sale.
IICL-6 surveys billed per unit for pre-sale and lease-return audits.
What "Vanta-certified" actually requires
- IICL-6 trained inspectors on staff (we sponsor training).
- Reach-stacker or top-lifter with valid annual LOLER certification.
- Paved / drained yard with per-TEU stacking capacity confirmed by survey.
- Digital gate log with photo capture for every inbound and outbound move.
- $5M+ general liability and bailee insurance naming Vanta as an additional insured.
- 24/7 security: perimeter fence, lighting, and monitored CCTV.
Vanta Yard OS, deployed at no cost
Certified depots run on the same yard management platform we use at our flagship sites - gate ins/outs, photo capture, inventory, EDI, damage codes and invoicing. Installation, training and 24/7 support are included. You keep your own P&L; we bring the software backbone.
- ✓ Digital gate log with photo capture
- ✓ Live TEU inventory & customer visibility
- ✓ EDI + API into 40+ interchange partners
- ✓ 24/7 platform support & quarterly upgrades
Take-or-pay throughput from day one
Idle capacity is the biggest killer of depot economics. Every certification comes with a monthly TEU commitment backed by take-or-pay clauses, so your yard earns whether market flows are surging or soft. Commitments scale up as your certification tier progresses.
- ✓ Contracted monthly TEU minimums
- ✓ Take-or-pay revenue on unused volume
- ✓ Quarterly commitment step-ups
- ✓ Preferred allocation on new regional stock
Buyers walk into your yard, not around it
Certified depots are listed on our Locations page, surfaced in our live inventory API and routed enterprise RFPs from their region first. Instead of chasing spot business, your yard becomes the default fulfillment point for every Vanta buyer within reach.
- ✓ Public listing on the Vanta Locations page
- ✓ Live inventory feed into partner & buyer portals
- ✓ Regional RFPs routed to nearest certified depot
- ✓ Co-branded pickup and buyer inspection days
Start the conversation
Send us a short yard profile - location, acreage, equipment, and current monthly throughput. Our network development team responds within 7 business days.