Regardless of your status- a shipper, freight forwarder or end consumer, ensuring the transit goods are in good condition becomes a must. In-transit damage would lead to a freight claim and impact the bottom line, increase insurance rates and ultimately affects the relationship between the shippers and freight forwarders and with shippers and recipients of the freight. It may even harm the reputation of the logistics service provider. However, whether it is express transport or full truckload or less than truckload or ocean or air shipping, there are many sensible ways freight forwarding companies can take care of the goods in transit to avoid any incidence of transit damage.  

Let’s discuss a few measures that provide ideal protection for the goods in transit from the start of the journey to their delivery point. Follow these simple tips to avoid instances of transit damage, in addition to helping all the parties involved to assure the safety of the cargo and preventing cost escalation.  

Simple Tips to Prevent Transit Damage  

1. Know Your Cargo  

Fundamentally, the nature of cargo comes into play while determining the type of security it requires. Knowing what it takes for safe transport would prevent transit damage to a great extent. As a first step, you can identify the type of packing and transportation. For instance, if your cargo consists of fragile/delicate products, give extra care in selecting packaging materials. Suppose, if one has to ship bulk loads, it is wise to secure them on a pallet, besides finding trucks with the appropriate capacity. In case the goods require more volumetric space rather than weight, a trailer with a higher space capacity is an ideal choice. As per the nature of the freight, one has to choose the type of carrier and packaging.   

2. Packing Considerations  

Once you have identified the nature and type of cargo, the next significant step is to select suitable packaging. Depending on the nature of the products, go for durable packages such as corrugated boxes. Some containers cannot withstand the pressure when pallets get stacked up. Make sure that boxes have adequate strength when they are put to extreme conditions to avoid transit damage. Always keep in mind to select the excellent packaging material in the desired size with impact protection. Also, choose packages that are uniform to help them stack properly on pallets. Check for any damage on them if they get reused. Look for dents, tears or holes; the damaged shipping containers/boxes pose risks and, hence the chances are highly likely that it will result in damaged goods. Use good quality pallets as well.

3. Label Goods Correctly  

More often than not, we forget or are ignorant about the importance of labelling in avoiding transit damage. For instance, while transporting delicate/brittle/heavy/sensitive freight, if there is a proper label indicating that the products are fragile, bulky or temperature-sensitive, it helps in its safe handling from pick up to delivery point. Also, it allows shippers to select the appropriate pallets. Promoting secure handling is one of the most pivotal points in preventing goods from getting damaged in transit. While placing a label, make sure that it is neatly written or printed for easy identification. If not allowed by the carrier, avoid multiple labelling on packages. Under instances of mislabeled packages, remove them with neat and easily readable ones devoid of stains. Place labels on the top of packages that anyone can see the instructions on handling.  

4. Careful Loading and Placing of Goods  

The risk of transit damage does not stop with proper packaging, though. Once packaging gets carefully done, the next step is to load the cargo into the truck. Here comes the importance of using uniform packages. Ensure that the pallets and boxes have similar dimensions when you stack goods on a pallet inside a trailer. It helps maintain stability during their transit and also guarantees that the weight gets evenly distributed on pallets. If the cargo does not allow, avoid double stacking; or damages due to placing packages one over the other. Always stack light-weight boxes on top of the heavy ones. Likewise, liquid cargo gets placed below dry products. In case there is any leakage, it prevents dry goods from getting damaged. Avoid space between packages and pallets to avoid transit damage due to cargo shifting.  

5. Rely on Express Transport  

Whenever possible, shippers can rely on dedicated transport where handling issues are considerably low. Dedicated express transportation is a convenient method of transportation in which a truck travels from pick up to the delivery point with no stop-offs in between for speedy delivery. There is hardly any transit damage resulting from excessive handling compared to other forms of transport like less than truckload service. With fewer touchpoints, dedicated express transport ensures both freight safety as well as timely delivery. Nine out of ten times, damages during transportation result from poor and excessive handling at multiple touchpoints. However, dedicated transport focuses on the safety of freight by avoiding overly handling. Hence, if a shipper requires regular movement of cargo from one point to another during a particular day of a week with a specific delivery time window, dedicated express transport would help.   

Final Note  

Freight movement encompasses a plethora of activities based on several external factors. A simple mistake can prove detrimental to the smooth flow of shipping goods. From pick up to the delivery destination, preventing transit damage is a must. The freight forwarders and shippers can adopt the remedies above to avoid freight claims resulting from damaged goods.  

At Ianis Cargo, shippers get completed assurance on safety that they can avail themselves of the CMR insurance, real-time tracking and proof of delivery. Apart from these, shippers receive instant quotes for freight transit using the live shipping calculator to assure absolute transparency in shipping rates. There are no hidden charges and, shippers can take advantage of the prevailing market conditions. With optimised routes and rates, Ianis Cargo Express, one of the leading express transport companies in Europe, reassures safe transport of freight while keeping the shipping rates low.  

Partnering with reputed courier companies allows courier comparisons and, our customers can avail of the lowest rates for freight movement. We take great care in packaging as per the demands of the products to prevent transit damage and, mile by mile tracking lets shippers know the status of goods from the point of origin to destination. In addition, to the express transport service, Ianis Cargo offers full truckload service (FTL), less than truckload (LTL) and air shipping. Move your freight through Ianis Cargo and get complete assurance on safety with remarkable 99.7% on-time deliveries.