First-Time Shipper
A Basic Guide to Shipping

Preparing Your Package

Proper packaging protects your shipment during transit. Many claims and damages arise from improper packaging, and packaging errors may eliminate or reduce your carrier's liability.

The packaging you select must be appropriate for your product. Use cartons, crates, cages, or drums for protection. Wrapping (“shrouding”) your shipment with blankets or other cushioning material or securing it to a pallet is also effective.

Shipments can be secured using stretch- or shrink-wrap, banding, spray adhesive, etc. Proper packaging will also help define the “cube” of your shipment, making it easier to load “tight”.

Stacking a pallet
Cartons should be stacked squarely on the skid, with no overhang. Box flaps and corrugations should face up. Make the top surface as flat as possible. Secure cartons to the pallet with banding, stretch-wrap, or breakaway adhesive.
Improper stacking may lead to damage
Incorrect stacking
Different-size containers may not be uniform enough to have unit strength. Damage can occur if cartons overhang the pallet because there is no support for the freight in transit. Damage can occur when a pallet doesn't have a flat top surface. Place single containers on an outside corner or ship them loose.
How stacking strength is lost
Stacking strength is lost when pallets are improperly loaded.
Stacking strength is lost when pallets are improperly loaded
Pallet overhang loses up to 32% of carton strength. Interlocked pattern loses up to 50% of carton strength. Misalignment loses up to 30% of carton strength.

Related Links:



Quick Links