diff --git a/docker_files/dockerconfig.conf b/docker_files/dockerconfig.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..676c98d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker_files/dockerconfig.conf
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export SHELL_ONLY="TRUE"
diff --git a/docker_files/init.sh b/docker_files/init.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ef7e75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker_files/init.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+echo "Containerised psa_car_controller loading..."
+
+echo "Checking for container configuration file /config/dockerconfig.conf"
+FILE=/config/dockerconfig.conf
+if [ -f "$FILE" ]; then
+    echo "$FILE exists. Importing file..."
+    source $FILE
+else
+    echo "$FILE does not exist. Setting default value for SHELL_ONLY=TRUE"
+    export SHELL_ONLY="TRUE"
+    echo "Copying default dockerconfig.conf file to /config"
+    cp /psa_car_controller/docker_files/dockerconfig.conf /config
+fi
+
+
+if [ "$SHELL_ONLY" == "TRUE" ]
+then
+    echo "SHELL_ONLY = TRUE. Loading just a bash shell"
+    /bin/bash
+else
+    echo "SHELL_ONLY = FALSE. Running server.py"
+    python3 /psa_car_controller/server.py -f /config/test.json -c /config/charge_config1.json -p 8180 -l 0.0.0.0
+fi