Pack for the whole route
A shipment may change hands several times: truck, port, ship, port, truck. Pack for the roughest leg, not the first one.
- Use strong outer packaging. Double-wall cartons for lighter goods; crates for heavy, fragile or high-value items.
- Fill the space. Empty space inside a carton lets goods shift and break. Use dunnage or fillers.
- Keep weight low. Put heavy items at the bottom of a pallet or container, and spread the load evenly.
- Secure the load. Strap or stretch-wrap pallets. Inside a container, brace and lash cargo so it cannot move.
Moisture
Containers crossing warm, humid regions can build up condensation, often called container rain. It can stain cartons, rust metal and spoil food.
- Use desiccants (moisture absorbers) inside containers for sensitive goods.
- Wrap moisture-sensitive goods in plastic before packing.
- Keep cargo off the floor on pallets.
Pallets and wood packaging
Wood packaging used in international shipping, such as pallets and crates, is usually required to be heat-treated or fumigated and stamped under the ISPM 15 standard. Untreated wood can be held, treated or sent back at the destination. Ask your packer for treated, stamped wood, or use plastic or processed-wood pallets.
Mark every package
Each package should carry:
- Shipping marks: the receiver's name or mark, the destination, and the package number, such as "3 of 18".
- Weights and size: gross and net weight, and dimensions.
- Handling labels: standard pictograms such as "this way up", "fragile" and "keep dry".
- Hazard labels: for dangerous goods, the class labels and UN number required by the rules for each mode. These are applied by the shipper or a specialist.
Marks should match the packing list exactly. Old labels from earlier shipments should be removed.
Air, sea and road differ
- Air: weight and size limits are stricter, and packaging is checked at acceptance. Light, compact packing saves cost, because air freight is priced on weight or volume, whichever is greater.
- Sea: expect long transit, stacking and humidity. Pack for movement and moisture.
- Road: expect vibration and repeated loading. Secure items inside the package as well as the package on the truck.
When to ask for help
If cargo is fragile, heavy, valuable, oddly shaped or hazardous, packing is part of the job. We coordinate packing, crating and labelling as a service. See warehousing.