In a perfect world, our packages and shipments would have easier journeys to their destinations. Although there are procedures to prevent damage, human error and mistakes can damage freight during shipping. It’s important to take preventative steps to ensure that your partners and their customers are happy when they receive your products.

Here are some freight damage mistakes to avoid during shipping to keep your shipments safe.

Improper or Unsecure Packaging

One of the most common reasons shipments get damaged is improper or unsecured packaging. If an item isn’t properly packaged, there’s a higher chance of it getting damaged during transit. With the correct measurements and packaging materials, you won’t have to worry about the items inside moving around. You should also ensure that you’re storing items correctly in your truck. Make sure your packaging doesn’t require special storage temperatures to prevent it from spoiling or melting.

Not Choosing Delivery Routes Wisely

Your logistics team should select the easiest routes available to get the shipment to its destination on time. This process is challenging because you must consider the weather, traffic, holidays, events, and other factors that could influence traffic flow. Using a route with high traffic could delay your delivery, resulting in items spoiling or sustaining damage due to sitting in a truck all day.

Not Preparing for Inclement Weather or Natural Disasters

Natural disasters and inclement weather are other common causes of freight damage during shipping. Rain can cause flooding and high humidity and decrease road visibility for truck drivers. Earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, and other natural phenomena can occur anytime without your control. However, using protective packaging materials can help keep your items safe.

Not Properly Labeling Your Shipments

Not properly labeling your shipments can result in damage and loss. The shipment process is very long and requires multiple hands to reach its destination. If you don’t mark your shipment as perishable or fragile, it won’t get the proper care it needs. Label your load to ensure that your fragile items are handled carefully to prevent the items inside from breaking.

Rough Handling During the Shipping Journey

As stated above, your shipment will go through many hands before it reaches its new home. Handlers must understand how to handle these packages with care. A common reason boxes end up damaged is handlers carelessly throwing shipments. Adding a note to handle the load carefully will help prevent damage.

At Logistick, we understand the importance of getting your items to their destination on time and damage-free. We offer load securement mechanisms like load bars to keep your products safe throughout their journey. Check out our website to secure your shipments.