Preparing Your Freight Shipment for Delivery

If you are shipping freight, you need to keep several factors in mind when taking the time to prepare your shipment. Freight shipments can include large boxes or palletized items, usually with a minimum weight.  Depending on the packaging, you will have to prepare them in different ways.

To determine if you should palletize your freight, keep in mind that minimum billable charges can impact the billing of your shipment. Palletized freight keeps a multi-piece shipment together and protected from damage. Each pallet is considered one piece. However, non-palletized freight is categorized by boxes or containers, which aren’t secured. Each box or container is considered one piece.

Packaging

Preparing a Palletized Shipment

  1.  Select a pallet. Pallets should be large enough that they can accommodate your freight without any part hanging over. If any piece hangs over the edge of the pallet, your shipment will be susceptible to damage.  Consider a pallet with four-way forklift entry. They are the preferred pallet because they improve handling.
  2. Stack your packages on the pallet. Put a label with complete address information, on each box or container. Align the boxes in columns for greatest stability when stacking. Keep the top layer flat and avoid a pyramid shape.
  3. Secure your shipment to the pallet. Use banding or strapping in order to secure your boxes to the pallet. Use stretch wrap to prevent the pieces from getting separated from the load.
  4. Label your shipment. Your pallet should have the address information on it, including shipper postal code and the consignee’s information.

Preparing a Non-Palletized Shipment

  1. Ship your items in corrugated boxes, crates or containers. Consider double boxing your items if they are heavy.
  2. Remove all labels, tags and markings from boxes that are being reused.
  3. Protect your items. Use at least 2 inches or more of cushioning material to protect the items from each other and the edges of the container.
  4. Securely seal the boxes with reinforced tape.
  5. Label each piece with complete address information, postal code of the shipper and the consigner’s information.

Whether you are sending a freight shipment near or far, STC Logistics is here to help the process go as smoothly as possible. Our 24/7-customer service and 36 status checkpoint system monitors your freight every step of the way. Contact us today with further questions or to request a quote.