You could have just joined the shipping or industry, or maybe you’ve been in it for years, but the importance of proper blocking and bracing can never be overstated. You cannot expect cargo to do what you want it to while in transit. In fact, it’s more likely something will go wrong with the shipment, especially without proper securement in place. We’ll go over some of the reasons why it’s critical to have your cargo properly secured, so you can avoid any dangerous or costly mishaps.

Damage To Cargo

It should come as no surprise that the most common impact of improper blocking and bracing is damaged cargo. Whether on a truck, ship, or plane, there are just too many outside forces acting upon the shipment to trust that it will be fine on its own. Improper bracing and blocking are just as dangerous to the cargo as having none at all. You must install cargo load locks and bars correctly for them to work as efficiently as they can.

Damage To Equipment

The shifting and moving of cargo loads endanger more than just the cargo itself. All unsecured cargo is subject to unwanted movement, which can lead to damage to equipment nearby and even the shipping container itself. In the case of truck shipping, these damages are often the responsibility of the driver and can quickly add up to substantial amounts of money. Protect your shipment, and your shipping equipment, by following the correct procedures for blocking and bracing your cargo.

Damage To Personnel

The worst outcome of improperly securing a shipment’s cargo is the potential harm that can come to personnel that interacts with it. Someone needs to open that shipping container at some point, and without proper bracing and blocking, you run the risk of cargo spilling out of the container in unsafe ways. For trucking specifically, improperly braced and blocked cargo represents a danger to your driving ability and safety, as the cargo can shift in transit and throw your truck off balance.

The importance of proper blocking and bracing is rather obvious when you lay it all out, but it never hurts to have a refresher. Logistick, Inc. creates the best cargo securement products so that you don’t have to worry about any of these less-than-ideal outcomes happening to you.