Sending heavy shipments to their intended destination is a challenge, no matter if the mode of transportation is ocean shipping or air shipping. You need to take precautions while packing them, loading them, and also need to take care of things during adverse circumstances. After all, heavy shipments themselves are expensive and so do their shipping. While most of the things are taken care of by the company that you choose for heavyweight shipment services, you must be aware of the important things that ensure the safe shipping of heavyweight cargo.
1. Choose Impact-Resistance Packaging
Heavier shipments are typically moved by forklifts instead of human power. Besides, they might be switched by trucks before they are loaded on a cargo ship or flight.
Thus, you need packaging that can withstand the impact of getting dropped, being subjected to vibration from conveyor belts and trucks, compression on all sides due to indiscriminate stacking, and changes in temperature and humidity.
Choose suitable packaging cartons that are strong enough to bear the weight of a full load of packages stacked on top of them. If using corrugated cartons, secure them only with reinforced water-activated tape.
Besides, you may want to add an extra layer of protection to the interior of the packaging box. This can be done through a layer of X-pad along all sides as it provides excellent bracing and cushioning.
2. Choose a Proper Pallet If Needed
Many heavyweight items are best secured by using wooden or plastic pallets. When your heavyweight shipment is more prone to damage and cannot be shipped safely only through corrugated packaging, pallets are the best choice to add sturdy protection layer as they can endure the stress of being hauled, lifted, and other challenges.
However, such shipments should never exceed the weight restrictions on their pallet. Thus, when it comes to choosing pallets for your heavyweight shipments, make sure that pallets are designed to withstand the weight of the cargo you need to ship.
3. Avoid Making Boxes Too Heavy If Possible
Understandably, some shipments can be too heavy which makes them difficult to ship, load, and unload. Thus, if your item has a modular design and has different parts that you can pack in different boxes, then prefer wrapping individual components separately in multiple shipping boxes instead of wrapping them in one big box. Overly heavy boxes are more likely to get damaged during transit and also present a bigger threat to those lifting them.
4. Purchase cargo insurance
While cargo insurance is beneficial for any size of FBA shipment, you must not ignore its importance, especially when hiring heavyweight shipment services. Purchasing a cargo insurance plan provides you with an intangible benefit that protects you when faced with adverse circumstances.
As far as the shipping is concerned, there is nothing more disappointing than getting a damaged heavyweight shipment. Since the cost of heavyweight shipment is much higher and you have so much to lose in terms of money, time, and reputation, choosing to purchase FBA cargo insurance is a smart move.
The bottom line is that make your heavyweight shipment as secure as possible through thoughtful packaging and buy cargo insurance. It will help reduce the number of damaged goods and returns, and therefore, your customers will be more likely to purchase from you again.
