The LTL shipping industry in the US is worth a whopping $86 billion and continues to show steady growth.
As more people embrace LTL shipping, the tighter the space for shipping via LTL becomes. This means it’s up to you to pack your shipment as safely and efficiently as possible.
Improper packaging not only costs a lot of money but also leads to multiple problems for everyone in the supply chain. To save you the hassle, we’ve compiled a few amazing packaging tips for LTL shipments.
1. It All Starts With the Palettes
The first step to proper packaging doesn’t start with the package itself, but with the palettes. Palettes form the foundation for your shipment to sit on. As such, it’s important to get the right palettes for your specific shipment.
Always get wooden palettes for your packages and cover them with a deck of boards. Steer clear of plastic palettes or those made from corrugated steel. Plastic and steel palettes are more expensive than wooden ones, and they’re also harder to repair.
Get four-way access palettes for greater flexibility when loading and storing. Also, make sure your palettes don’t have any protruding nails that may puncture your shipment.
2. Stack Your Packages the Right Way
Improper stacking of packages could work to your detriment when shipping via LTL. Improper stacking increases the chances of your packages becoming undone. Plus, it may put uneven stress on parts of the cardboard and weaken your boxes.
That said, ensure you stack your boxes squarely on top of the pallet. Stack boxes on top of each other, starting with the largest ones. It’s okay to stack boxes edge to edge but never allow any overhang.
Overhang makes your cartons more susceptible to damage when the trailer sways or rocks back and forth. Overhanging your boxes also decreases their strength by almost a third. An interlocking pattern also decreases the strength of your cardboard boxes.
For proper stacking, make sure you distribute weight evenly across the palette. Also, try your best to make the top surface flat and even.
3. Identify Fragile Items
Fragile items need a lot of care and diligence while packing, loading, and storing. As such, it’s important to clearly identify any fragile items to keep them from breaking. Add internal packaging to provide an extra layer of protection against breakage.
Also, consider adding additional cushioning around the boxes to improve protection against breakages. If you opt for crates, pack them as full as possible to restrict the movement of items inside them while in transit.
4. Label Correctly
Ensure you label all your packages before their pick up. This is one of the most important but overlooked supply chain tips. A proper label will help everything run smoothly down the supply chain.
If you’re having issues labeling your packages or stacking them the right way, you might want to consider hiring a trucking logistics company. Try reading this complete guide to see how it can help you with shipping your products.
Packing for LTL Shipments Made Easy
Packaging for LTL shipments isn’t rocket science but it isn’t too straightforward either. The above freight packing tips should help you package and ship your LTL goods safely and efficiently. If you need a hand with your packaging and shipping, you can always get it from a trucking logistics company.
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