Loading containers in the most efficient way
Belgium and the Netherlands are real export champions. Every day, thousands of containers leave the seaports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, among others, to the United States and Canada. You load these containers using your own method, but are you sure that’s the most efficient way for your business?
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High container prices demand an optimal approach
Save time and money during loading and unloading containers
Everywhere in the world you will typical Dutch and Belgian products. In both countries, exports abroad represent no less than 85 percent of GDP.Behind these impressive figures lies an equally impressive logistics chain. Certainly overseas transport requires a lot of know-how. Just think of loading and unloading the shipping containers. Companies that make the right choices, can save a lot of time and money in every phase of their supply chain.
Containers have never been so expensive
Ocean freight from China to ports in Europe and the US has become very expensive in the past year. A container from Shanghai to Rotterdam costs almost 500% more than a year ago. Amongst other reasons, this isdue to the rapid economic recovery of the Chinese market, a lack of new containers and a disrupted supply chain, which results in containers reaching the wrong destinations. With container transport prices skyrocketing, it is therefore necessary to organise your loading ascost-efficient as possible.
Methods for container loading
3 methods for filling containers
3 methods for filling containers
Roughly speaking, there are three methods for filling sea containers: by hand (handballing or manual filling), using a slipsheet (a thin cardboard or plastic sheet that is placed under the goods and with which they can be moved) or with pallets. Discover each method and its advantages and disadvantages.
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Pallets
Pallets
+ Simple and quick to use
+ Little chance of product damage
+ Easy to transfer products from one transport to another- Increases the weight of the container
- No optimal use of space
- High cost when using disposable pallets.Pallet pooling eliminates the purchase costs of pallets.
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Manual Filling
Manual Filling
+ Optimal use of container space
- Labour-intensive
- Freight often has to be palletized after transport.
- High risk of product damageContact CHEP
Slipsheet
Slipsheet
+ The slipsheet takes up little extra space and weighs nothing.
+ Low cost for one-time use- Not always having the right material at your disposal to load
- Freight often has to be palletized after transport
- Risk of product damage
- Container not optimally filledContact CHEP
Determining the right method for your overseas transport
The most appropriate method depends on the weight, nature of the product, volume and cost of transport and labour. For the transport of bags of corn, for example, with a low value and high volume, preference will mostly be given to transport with slipsheets.
Another factor is the number of shipping points during transport. If the freight has to be regularly transferred from one means of transport to another, pallets are the most appropriate choice, as you will have to transfer the goods onto a pallet after arrival.
Not sure if you are loading your containers for sea transport in the most efficient way?
Our experts will be happy to analyse your overseas flows and recommend the most efficient way.
Yes, I would like to optimize my overseas flows
Pallet pooling suited for intercontinental freights
If you choose pallets, you can also opt for pallet pooling. In that case, you do not buy the pallets yourself, but rent them, for example via CHEP. Some of the largest international brands already use CHEP pallets for their exports from and to the U.S. and Canada. Every year, almost 170,000 CHEP pallets with goods arrive in Europe from the United States.
What is pallet pooling?
How does CHEP work?
- Discover our distribution solutions
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