Nothing is more frustrating than having your goods damaged or lost during shipping. Having unfortunate accidents in the shipping field isn’t a far-fetched scenario, which is why you should always be prepared for these types of mishaps.
There are some precautionary steps you have to take before leaving your cargo on its trip, making sure that your cargo will withstand the hardships it will face along the way, whether from the troubled sea, poor handling of cargo, or robbers.
Top 5 Tips to Reduce Cargo Damage or Loss
In this article, we will show you the Top 5 Tips to Reduce Cargo Risk of Loss or Damage, but first, you must know what type of cargo you have.
Types of cargo:
There are several types of cargo or goods transported from one location to another, whether by air, sea freight, or land transport. Here is a glimpse of the many types of cargo.
1- Containers cargo
The most common type of cargo is where goods of different sizes and types are organized and stored in containers, There are different types of containers available that are designed specifically to hold various kinds of goods.
2- Bulk Cargo
Bulk cargo is cargo that contains bulk raw material shipped together without containers, like items necessary for construction where good can be in a liquid, granular, or solid form
- Solid cargo
Solid cargo is cargo that contains loose goods in a solid state, such as wheat, sugar, fertilizer, cement, or coal.
- Liquid Bulk Cargo
Similar to solid cargo, liquid cargo is cargo that contains loose goods but is in a liquid form, like oil, chemicals, or natural gas.
- Break Bulk cargo
are goods that don’t fit in the largest container. Break bulk cargo, as opposed to solid cargo, can be in the form of drums, crates, pallets, or bags, or it can be shipped loosely, such as steel rolls and wood.
3- Roll-On Roll-Off cargo
Roll-on, roll-off, or Ro-or are types of freight cargo that include goods that require the rolling principle to load and unload, like cars, motorbikes, vans, buses, trucks, and tractors.
Top 5 Tips to Reduce Cargo Damage or Loss
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The right packing
If you packed right, then you are halfway there. Packing might be the lowest cost in your supply chain, but it is the most important step in keeping your cargo safe. Begin investing in product packaging! Many businesses try to reduce expenses by improperly packaging their goods, which results in crushed, unsellable goods in the end. Saving money on packing will lead you to spend more on other expensive costs.
You should also start labeling everything, from the address to the information that states the condition of the cargo and how it should be treated during transportation of solid bulk cargo, for which the “Dangerous" label is often applied. This is to ensure careful loading and transportation of the goods.
You should also coordinate your packing with the appropriate size that is available in the container to reduce the possibility that the cargo will be stuffed in the container.
2. The right container
Picking the right container for your cargo can be confusing. First, as we discussed earlier, you need to know what type of cargo your goods are, then figure out which container is most appropriate to keep your cargo safe. And to help you, these are the most common types. 6 most common types of containers.
3. The right handling
Poor handling can be extremely damaging to your goods and should never be taken lightly. Things like poor container filling or uneven weight distribution are some of the most frequent causes of cargo damage.
For example, when loading solid bulk cargo like sand, it is important to ensure that the sand is evenly distributed. Because uneven distribution may cause the container to flip or lean on its side due to instability, that’s because one side will be having more weight.
You should also be careful of a few other factors when loading your cargo into containers, such as the extra space that is not required because it raises the possibility of shifting.
4. Cargo insurance
Investing in cargo insurance is the most efficient approach to lowering the risk of the loss or damage of cargo.
Cargo insurance provides coverage for damages or destructions that might occur to the goods. Keep in mind that if you experience damage on a regular basis, your insurance rates may rise as well, so you should take care of the previous points and make sure you did your part in keeping your cargo safe before getting insurance.
With the appropriate insurance, you can transport your goods anywhere with confidence, knowing that any possible loss, damage, or disruption will be covered. Just make sure you understand the insurance terms and how much the insurance will cover exactly in every scenario.
5. Choose the right freight partner
Keeping your cargo safe can be quite a task, and to save yourself from all the trouble above, you can always hire a professional to do it for you. You should pick a freight forwarder that will put your cargo’s safety first, a partner like ACS Logistics Co., with years of experience your cargo is in good hands.
Every business suffers from missing and damaged goods all the time. Losses that come from damaged goods are the highest cost to a transportation department. From extreme weather to theft, political decisions, labor mistakes, or even mechanical issues, some of these losses are unavoidable. Even the most meticulously prepared international shipment can be delayed or ruined by any of those situations.
You just need to be aware of the risks that your cargo can encounter. and how you can work on avoiding it as much as you can. You should even put together a “catastrophe team" in your company, a team of well-trained, prepared individuals that are willing to act in case any of these unpredictable incidents happen.