How to Avoid Cargo Damage and Increase Your Profits
Hello there,
Welcome to another edition of Logistics Monday.
Damaged cargo can cost your business a great deal of time and money, so it’s important to do everything you can to prevent your products from being damaged. This is especially true if you ship valuable cargo.
If your shipments are constantly being damaged during transit, then read on for some tips on how to prevent this from happening in the future.
1. Improve the way you load
There should be no gaps or irregularities in the stacking. It is important that the weight of the pallets is evenly distributed and that the pallet heights are uniform.
In the world of freight loading, proper documentation, established processes, and procedures are of paramount importance. Stack cartons or pallets carefully, use a cushion to protect the product from swings and fill up any gaps with dunnage to ensure that goods do not shift in transit.
2. Containerization should be effective
The purpose of a container is to allow stockpiling and transporting goods without the risk of a crash due to its strength and to facilitate its handling by transporters.
Locate the center of gravity correctly within the container and distribute the load evenly on the ground. Clean the containers and remove all residue from previous transports.
3. Keeping containers dry and sweat-free
Fixing damage is more expensive than preventing it. Maintain the dry state of containers by using proper ventilation and desiccants.
4. A suitable material-handling system
If you use the right equipment, you will be able to increase your speed and effectiveness. Accidents and damage can be reduced to a great extent also. You should make sure that all equipment is working properly!
5. Using appropriate labels
As part of the shipping process, labels assist shippers in making decisions. For example, labels should indicate the contents’ ability to withstand extra weight. Give the maximum weight the box or package can withstand before it is crushed and an indication of how fragile the contents are. You should label pallets properly with concise, visually easy-to-read information, to make them easy to identify.
6. Reduce cargo damage by improving warehouse conditions
To achieve smarter working, a warehouse layout should be logical. Ample clean aisles for man labor and equipment should also be present in cross docks and warehouses. By using the right system, you can maximize your warehouse space, prevent goods from getting damaged, and load/unload your trucks faster.
7. Handling practices need to be improved
There are several factors responsible for employees mishandling packages and damaging products, including poor judgment, a lack of work ethic, lack of training, and a high-pressure environment. Forklift operators should understand how much weight is allowed when loading heavy loads; the same goes for employees who use other equipment in the workplace. Train your employees in a way that will ensure maximum productivity with the minimum number of accidents and losses.
8. Supply chain planning
Establish, document, and maintain a plan to minimize product damage and increase indicators to ensure that the merchandise will reach your customers in good condition, including packaging, consolidation, and how it will be transported.
9. Partner with the right 3PL provider
Using a 3PL company to manage your logistics will help you improve your efficiency, reduce the risk of damage during transport, enable your company to focus on its core business, and increase the profit margin.
What TGL Offers
TGL is a logistics company that offers high-quality and affordable services to companies across the globe. As a logistics company, our value lies in our flexibility to provide clients with cost-effective solutions to meet their specific needs. At TGL, we recognize that each client has different needs and so our experts are always standing by to help you every step of the way. We handle our client’s freight with total transparency. By offering value-added services at affordable prices, we help them to reduce their costs and improve their profit margins.
Get in touch with our Experts to discuss your Logistics requirements.
Email: info@tgl.ng