By Sarah Vining

For 34 years, Robert Whisman has been buying, selling and renting cargo containers. You have  likely driven by and noticed his lot — Whisman Storage Cargo Containers — along 395 in Deer Park.  

Robert’s family moved to Deer Park from Missouri when he was a youngster. He took a very  circuitous route to becoming a container dealer. Having an entrepreneurial nature, Robert ran a  snow plow business and owned a coin operated laundromat. For over 30 years, he worked for  the Deer Park School District as a bus mechanic and driver. After being on the Deer Park  Planning Commission for two years and serving as city councilman for 16 years, Robert was  elected as mayor and served Deer Park in that capacity from 2006 until 2017. 

Robert also owned a local business selling sheds. During that time, he realized all of the  advantages of retired shipping containers, sold his wooden shed company and became a full time dealer of steel cargo containers. 

“All shipping containers come from China. The newest containers arrive with a load of merchandise, which can be anything from cars to toys,” explained Robert. 

With no plans to refill the containers and return them to China, they are auctioned off to the highest bidder. These are called “one trip” containers.

Most cargo containers begin as part of a fleet. Each is used in a rotation until the owner  decides that it has depreciated enough to remove it from the fleet. These containers then go to  auction, where Robert procures them to add to his inventory. 

Most rental customers have Whisman deliver a container to their own property. These are  generally used for short-term storage during construction. Others fill a container and have it  kept on the lot at Whisman Storage Cargo Containers. This situation is much like renting a  storage unit, but with the convenience of having the unit brought to your site instead of hauling  truckloads of items to a storage facility. 

There is an unlimited range of uses for containers. Some schools may have one located at  their ball field to hold sporting equipment. Others may fill a container with supplies for their  emergency preparedness operations.  

Houses and office buildings are even being constructed using modified containers. This type of  architecture creates very durable spaces. Containers can be stacked several stories high and can be move-in ready in a short period of time. 

Boats and vehicles are frequently stored in containers. Being both water tight and mouse  proof, one can be sure that the upholstery and wires will not be chewed during storage. 

Rural customers purchase small containers to store garbage cans. Bears can break into  wooden sheds, but not steel containers. 

According to Robert, a recent trend is for people to purchase two large containers. They have them set parallel to one another, several yards apart. Trusses are built to span over the two containers and form a roof, making a carport-like shelter with tons of storage on both sides. This idea is being implemented for industrial and residential purposes alike.

Whisman Storage Cargo Containers is a family-run business. With the use of a gigantic forklift,  Robert and his team can put a container onto a tilt trailer and have it ready to be hauled to a  new location within minutes.

Visit storagecargocontainers.com for information about renting or buying a  cargo container, or call Robert Whisman directly at 509-993-1166.