Don’t Overload
It might be tempting to consolidate items into a single package in order to reduce shipping costs. However, this increases the risk of the package breaking or the items damaging each other inside. If your shipment is made up of multiple heavy items, package them in separate boxes with separate cushioning and insulation. This will ensure everything is fully protected and ready for its journey.
Choose Durable Packaging
For packages over 10kg, opting for a double walled cardboard box as your shipment’s outer packaging will offer better strength. If your package is 30kg or above, however, a tri-walled box and a wooden shipping crate or pallet made of hardwood might be necessary. When it comes to the box, make sure it’s brand new and check the maker’s certificate for weight limits. Choose one that’s well-constructed, with stiches or staples at the seams. When sealing your package, make sure you use strong tape to seal it up, and consider using three strips on the top and the bottom to add further reinforcement.
Pallet Delivery – Everything You Need to Know About Pallet Distribution and Delivery >
Distribute Weight
Distributing the weight of your package appropriately is crucial to minimising the risk of damage. If there are multiple items in the box, place the largest and heaviest at the bottom, and balance the weight so it doesn’t tilt when carried. This can be done by centring the items in the box using insulation and braces – more on that later!
Protect Contents
To prevent damage to the items in your parcel, it’s important to use adequate inner packaging. Fill up the space between the item and the outer packaging with strong cushioning materials. Paper is unlikely to be robust enough for this. Instead, choose products like thermocol or bubble wrap which will provide greater protection.
Minimise Movement
As heavy items are more likely to shift during transit and whilst being handled, minimising movement will help protect your package. Use corrugated cardboard or foam enclosures to brace items within the outer packaging, or brace using cushioning material.
Track Package
Considering the added risks posed by shipping heavy items, it’s even more important to track your package. Accurate data will give you more control over the shipping process and provide your customers with easily accessible information about the whereabouts of their purchases. As a result, you’ll seem transparent and trustworthy, and your buyer journey is more likely to be positive.
Related: How Has Technology Transformed the Logistics Industry?
Outsource Fulfilment
Packing heavy items for shipping can be a headache, but outsourcing your fulfilment can relieve the strain. Your logistics partner will think of everything on your behalf, meaning you can focus on running your business. Specialist fulfilment expertise will enable them to get your heavy items to your customer in top condition, and save you money too.
Benefits of Outsourcing Logistics – The Advantages of Using a 3PL >
