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Our drivers at 407 Express Inc. operate their vehicles in a very
professional manner in order to safely get your product to your customers.
However, they cannot ensure safe delivery if the load is unstable or
poorly packaged. How you prepare your products for shipment is very
important to help ensure it's safe arrival to your customer. Below are
some tips to help you prepare your loads for shipment.
- Use good pallets that have cross boards along the bottom. These
kinds of pallets are less likely to collapse while in transit.
- Light cartons can be cross-piled making the load more secure. See
illustration (a) below.
- Heavy cartons should be stacked straight up so the corners of the
cartons support the weight. See illustration (b) below.
- All pallets of small or large cartons of stock should be shrink
wrapped. This will keep the load from shifting and cartons falling off.
- Pallets of large cartons should be banded with steel bands or shrink
wrapped well.
- Pallets of loose paper or similar products should be banded and
shrink wrapped. Due to the nature of these shipments take extra care to
use extra shrink wrap and use at least 2 bands banded as tightly as
possible. Band a skid top or another pallet on top of the stock. This
will protect the stock from the bands.
- Fragile items should be shipped in cartons larger than the items.
Pack the inside of the carton with foam, paper, or plastic, having the
item in the center of the carton. This will help protect the stock from
damage and shifting, especially if the item is fragile.
- Label all cartons with appropriate tags eg.. Fragile, Corrosive,
Flammable, Toxic. Labels should be visible in order for the carrier to
know what type of cargo is being loaded.
- Make sure all cartons are sealed properly. Use box sealing tape. You
can even use box sealing tape to help secure the load if you don't have
any shrink wrap or banding equipment.
- Remember to use all WHMIS and TDG procedeures for dangerous goods.
Supply proper documentation for all dangerous goods being shipped.
- Call your transportation company as soon as possible to pick up the
load. The more time the carrier has to get to you, the better they can
service you.
- When calling your carrier, take a moment to observe the weather
conditions outside. A stormy day means longer times to deliver your
stock. Giving as much notice as possible to the carrier to pick up the
stock on such days will help you get your stock to your customer in a
timely fashion. Remember it will still take longer to deliver stock on
stormy days. So try to account for delays in your delivery schedule and
your customer will be happier to receive the stock when it is expected
to be there. This will cut frustration to you, the carrier, and most of
all, the customer.
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