Transit damage is one of the top risks in shipping. Handing the goods in good condition is one of the most vital prerequisites for ensuring safe delivery. More importantly, it satisfies the customers and saves the cost of returns and reshipment. Helping businesses to keep their customers happy and grow by leaps and bounds with their loyal support by reducing the transit damage is one single-most consideration in shipping. Often, transit damaged freight affects the customer experience. Besides, it can lead to poor brand identity and takes a toll on business prospects, its efforts for improving sales, apart from the cost and time required for returns and reshipment. 

Luckily, there are many ways to reduce such untoward issues while cargo is in transit. We shall go through some of the best remedies that help avoid transit damaged freight. These adequate measures help shipping companies alleviate the damages caused due to the pressures of the journey from pick up to delivery point. 

1. Take Care of Packaging 

Proper packaging of goods in the first place would help prevent transit damaged freight to a great extent. Compared to the cost arising from the losses owing to transit damage, choosing the best packaging box based on the nature of materials would incur only minimal expenses. Furthermore, it reduces the overall indirect costs. Top of all, it ultimately ensures that the shipments reach the delivery point without any damage. By proper packaging, we mean packages that accommodate the materials perfectly, not too big or not too small. If the packaging is apt, it further helps in reducing shipping costs. 

One of the foremost reasons for transit damaged freight is poor stowage inside the package. It can be due to improper filling materials or incorrect weight distribution that eventually impacts packaging stability. Ensure that the packages selected provide proper protection against shocks and impacts during transportation. Also, it should be free from damages, holes or any sort of dents and so on. It is possible to use packages used earlier; however, one should ensure it is in good condition without damage.

Always check if the shipment weight exceeded the maximum weight given on the package. Also, fill in the empty spaces using proper filling materials such as kraft paper, bubble wraps, Styrofoam These filling materials provide adequate support and cushion for the shipment materials. Finally, use spill-resistant tape to seal the contents properly. Finally, use spill-resistant tape to seal the contents properly. 

2. Good Handling Practices 

Several people handle the packages while it is on the move. When there is no emphasis on sufficient care for handling cargo, handling issues occur. More often than not, even freight marked as a fragile package gets treated poorly. Handling packages carelessly may result in cargo damages that, as we all know, ultimately impacts customer satisfaction. Proper care in handling starts from packing, labelling and loading cargo onto the freight truck. Any damages caused during handling directly affects the customer experience. And so, it can make or break your shipping business. But fret not; it is possible to optimise the handling process by eliminating the chances of cargo damage.

Also, it facilitates brand reputation and translates into more business. Shipping companies should always take all steps to improve handling practices to reduce the risk of transit damaged freight. When time is of the essence, the chance of poor packaging is also most likely. Often, lack of well-trained employees and wrong judgement may also result in choosing unsuitable packages. At any cost, ensure that employees receive proper training to avoid cargo damage due to poor handling, for example, in using warehouse equipment for loading shipments to the trucks. Good material handling practices reduce cargo damage and also avoid accidents.

Besides, it improves supply chain management while helping on-time delivery and customer experience. Today, modern equipment carries out cargo handling, even though many shipping companies cannot replace human labour all at once, which further can cause safety issues. Hence, employees should get sufficient training regarding the considerations in proper cargo handling practices. Keeping themselves aware of the material handling requirements and knowing the use of material handling equipment solves the problem of shipment damage issues, thereby ensuring that they are loaded safely on the delivery truck and thus preventing transit damaged freight risks.

3. Cargo Palletising Methods 

Often, transit damaged freight creates significant dents in business. Even if the damage is trivial- from crumpled boxes to slightly damaged packages; it impacts the customer experience and the brand reputation of the shipping business as aforementioned. Apart from customer dissatisfaction and its negative impact on business reputation, it directly wrecks your bottom line. When you rely on pallet shipping, ensure that it is standardised while combining packages with the correct pallet size. Avoid empty spaces between packages and those that protrude outside the pallets.

If you use a wooden or corrugated box, check if it has any damage before using it. For instance, if your pallet is cracked and cannot withstand the weight of the package, subsequently, the box would fall into the broken portion making it hard to pick and move the pallet. Therefore, before loading the pallet, double-check if the pallet is sturdy enough to hold the packages. The International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) insists on using solid wood packaging material (SWP). Use corner post edge protectors that fit into the four corners of palletised packages to give extra strength and protection during their transit to delivery points.

Whenever a freight gets palletised, proper inspection is required to maintain the stock of pallets that are ideal for further use. Depending on the weight and bulkiness of the cargo, shipping companies have to adopt appropriate cargo securing techniques. Also, make sure that packages get wrapped using a stretch wrap or a stretch film to keep the boxes tightly bound and help them easily secure onto the pallet. All these steps would eventually help minimise the case of transit damaged freight. 

Load Movement Through Ianis Cargo 

Keep your goods moving through Ianis Cargo, one of the leading digital shipping platforms that utilise one-of-a-kind technology to meet all your shipping needs. From express transport to full truckload (FTL), less than truckload (LTL) and air shipping, Ianis Cargo offers several services to keep your cargo movement in a hassle-free and safe way. Customers can access the price quotes in real-time with the help of an intuitive live shipping calculator and compare prices offered by different courier companies. Also, they can access the lowest prices instantly while sending a quote request. There is no hidden charge, and the absence of intermediaries facilitates us to provide our customers with reasonable rates based on the prevailing market conditions. 

Apart from express transport, FTL, LTL and air shipping services, we offer pallet distribution and eCommerce delivery solutions for B2B and B2C merchants. With 99.7 per cent of deliveries made on time, Ianis Cargo uses the most advanced technology and complex set of algorithmic systems to optimise routes, last mile delivery and many more; it further enables prediction and prevention of oddities that delay shipping. Keeping customers happy and contented, Ianis Cargo focuses on cost-effective shipping while minimising the issues of transit damaged freight and giving prior consideration for cargo safety and on-time delivery!