Look out for stains around the door area as this can indicate a previous leak Check for rust. Note that rust is porous. Do a light test which can reveal small holes in the container. Just a few minutes of your time can reduce the chance of your cargo being damaged. If you overlook defects which a court decides due diligence would have revealed you may find an insurance claim is drastically reduced or even rejected.
Most operators charge by the container load.
The more goods you can fit into the container the lower the unit price will be to ship your goods. It is wise to draw up a packing plan to maximise the fill factor. If suitable use an interlocking stow Unitised cargo is often more stable and quicker to pack Make a point of strongly shoring and blocking the face of the stow as this prevents the cargo from falling out when the doors are open. It is best to use a double layer of dunnage to limit damage. Some destination countries require wood treatment certificates attached here too.