Protect Your Freight by Packing, Crating and Storing Before Shipping
When shipping sensitive, fragile, expensive — or all of the above — cargo overseas, it’s important to ensure it’s properly protected. Whether it’s the salty sea air or the turbulent waves, cargo on a vessel can take a beating if not properly packed and crated.
After all, the cost associated with project delays when the necessary equipment shows up damaged domestically is more than you like to see. Just imagine if it shows up damaged after a long overseas journey. How much will it cost you waiting for new parts or equipment to arrive?
Packing and crating for shipping is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Logistics providers that offer these services should be customizing the crates for whatever products you’re storing or moving. That involves a proper design process that can include shrink wrap to prevent moisture from getting in. And how stable a crate is designed should depend on the product or products inside it. For example, smaller products that are more susceptible to shifting around should be put in more sturdy crates.
Look for the ISPM 15 Stamp of Approval
Protection goes beyond your cargo. The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) has created a list of guidelines that all crating companies must follow in order to export product on behalf of shippers.
In order to be International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15) certified, the lumber used for crating services must be treated and fumigated in a specific way. The ISPM 15 stamp you should see on all properly crated products means it’s protected from insects, fungus, rodents and much more.
Save Time and Money by Working with One Provider
To verify that shipping companies are living up to the standards of being ISPM 15 certified, the IPPC randomly sends people to shipping facilities to inspect the wood being used to manufacture crates.
In this industry, we all know it’s not always as easy as picking up and delivering in one fell swoop. Sometimes warehousing and storage are needed to buy time until your products are ready to be delivered.
Save time and money by finding a logistics partner that can handle every aspect of packing, crating and storing from start to finish. Save time by making one call instead of contacting a transportation provider, a separate company for warehousing storage solutions and a different company to manage the packing and crating.
Top logistics providers will have wood shops within their warehouses so they can custom tailor your crates on-site. That’s also a great way to mitigate the risk that comes with transporting your products from one location to another to get your needs taken care of. Plus, there’s only one company responsible for every aspect of the process, meaning they’ll take more pride in their work. And if something does go wrong, there’s no finger pointing.
Ultimately, the end goal of the packing, crating and storage process is to protect your goods, so why not reduce the risk of damage even further by working with one company?
Packing, Crating & Storage Solutions to Make Your Life Easier
If you’re ready to ship your products overseas — or you receive important parts from outside the U.S. — and want to ensure they’re properly protected, look to ATS Logistics. Get what you need from the port to your facility, or vice versa, with one call. As an ISPM 15 certified provider, crates will be custom-designed to fit your needs and will have no issues entering the country of destination. Want to learn more or request a quote? Contact us today.
Scott Cromer is the southeast regional office manager for ATS Logistics, where he oversees the Greenville, S.C. sales and operations office, and the Charleston, S.C. and Cincinnati, Ohio warehouses. Scott joined ATS 10 years ago to serve in his current role; however, he has been a part of the transportation industry for nearly four decades.
