Tips

Dock worker carrying properly packaged freight

Pack like a pro. Ship like an expert.

Improper labelling or packaging causes over 80% of freight losses, damages and misdirects. As a shipper, you’re responsible for providing adequate labelling, sufficient protective packaging, and accurate descriptions of your goods on the shipping documentation.

To avoid lost or damaged freight, ask yourself these questions before you ship:

• Does each handling unit in my shipment have labels with the full shipper and consignee address and contact information?
• Does each handing unit have at least one barcode label with a tracking number (freight bill)?
• Does the freight have adequate exterior and interior packaging?
• If on a skid, is it wrapped and secured to prevent shifting?

5 Tips to Protect Your Shipment

1. Clearly label every handling unit with the complete shipper and consignee address and phone number.
2. Apply at least one barcode label with a tracking number (freight bill) to every handling unit.
3. When shipping multiple pieces together as individual handling units, ensure the freight is securely strapped or plastic wrapped together. The shipper/consignee address labels and barcode tracking numbers must be placed on top of the wrapping so it can be read effectively.
4. Ensure your shipment has adequate interior and exterior protective packaging.
5. If you are shipping non-stackable items, place a DO NOT STACK cone on top of your handling unit.

Label, Pack & Protect.

Follow these labelling and packaging tips to ensure your shipment is delivered on time, intact, and damage-free.

Shipper & Consignee Info
Ensure every handling unit is clearly labelled with the complete shipper and consignee address, and phone numbers. We use technology to scan the barcode labels applied to your freight. In the event the barcode cannot be read, the details you provide on the shipper and consignee label will help us identify your freight and minimize delays.

Barcode Labels
Ensure every handling unit is labelled with at least one barcode label with a tracking number (freight bill). We require the barcode tracking label because it enables our technology to direct your freight to the right location. Freight lacking barcodes will cause transit and delivery delays.

What is a Handling Unit?

A handling unit is one item or multiple items wrapped/secured together and moving as one, that are going to the same consignee. For example, 10 boxes stacked on a skid and wrapped together are considered one handling unit.

Choose the Right Packaging

Proper packaging is critical for having your freight delivered on time, intact, and damage free. Select the exterior and interior packaging materials that best suit your commodity.

Bubble Wrap: Ideal to protect fragile and irregularly shaped objects. Serves as good protection against shock. Fills the voids inside the shipping box.

Edge Boards: A very effective means to stabilize the load and reduce the risk of damage to the edge of boxes. Keep the freight within the pallet dimensions.

Foam Cushioning: helpful if your freight needs protection from vibrations and shocks. This material may require custom formation for maximum effectiveness.

Paper Honeycomb: ideal for both interior and exterior packaging.

Loose Fill: very flexible packaging material that fills the gaps around freight and offers shock protection.

Paper Pad: blocking, filling, and wrapping material that is perfect for irregular shaped products and fragile parts.

Corrosion Protection: used to prevent corrosion and oxidation when transporting non-treated metals.

Packing Your Freight on a Pallet/Skid

Place heavy, bulky items on pallets. Cartons should be stacked squarely with no overhang. To maximize carton strength, stack cartons on the pallet vertically. Secure cartons to a pallet with banding or shrink-wrap. Box flaps should always be properly sealed with packing tape.

Strap, Wrap & Secure Your Freight
When shipping multiple pieces together as individual handling units, ensure the freight is securely strapped or plastic wrapped together and the shipper/consignee address labels and barcode tracking numbers are placed on top of the wrapping (on the outside) so it can be read effectively.

In the example above where 10 boxes are stacked on a skid and moved as one handling unit, if the freight is not secured and wrapped together and to the skid, there is a high risk of the boxes shifting and tumbling in

transit. This is often how freight becomes lost or damaged in transit. Wrapping the individual pieces together will prevent them from being separated from one another. Securing the freight to the skid either through the use of plastic wrap and/or straps will prevent it from sliding off while in transit.

Drum Packaging Tips

Regardless of the material, size, or type of drums you’re using to ship your goods, following a few simple steps will help you prevent damages:

Choose the drum that meets the required Transport Canada or UN/US DOT rating or FDA approval. For example, reconditioned drums are not approved to ship food, beverages, and edible products.
Secure the drums with metal straps as close as possible to the centre of the pallet to ensure there is no overhang. The strapping should be as close to the drum sides as possible to avoid shifting during transportation.
If your drum is filled with liquid, take extra care not to exceed the pallet weight capacity. For example, fifty-five gallons of water weighs 459 pounds, so depending on the drum material, you’re looking at around 500 lbs. It could be heavier or lighter, depending on the product density.
Add a corrugated sheet between the drum and pallet to reduce wear and prevent punctures caused.

Stack Smarter

When shipping cardboard cartons on a skid, stack them in a column pattern that places the strongest points directly on top of one another. Use slip sheets between layers and/or shrink wrap for stability. Don’t use an interlocking pattern - it puts the strongest part of a box on top of the weakest box below it, dramatically reducing its strength.

Understand “At Shipper’s Risk”

Certain commodities have a higher risk of damage in transit, especially if they are not properly labelled and packaged. We accept items like antiques, artwork, personal effects, trade show shipments, used goods, etc. on a restricted basis and only At Shipper’s Risk, which means that the shipper is responsible for any damages occurred during transportation. For a description of our Terms & Conditions please refer to our Master Tariff. A list of Domestic (intra-Canada) and Cross-Border Restricted Articles is available on our website.

Do Not Stack Freight

It is common practice for freight to be double stacked to maximize utilization of equipment. If you are shipping non-stackable freight* due to the shape, contents, or packaging, you must secure a DO NOT STACK cone to the top of the freight.

DO NOT STACK cones are available from any seller of shipping supplies and materials.

*Additional charges may apply.

What is a Bill of Lading?

The Bill of Lading (BOL) is a legal document. When you complete the Day & Ross BOL, you agree to the Terms & Conditions stating that “the goods have been properly packaged and prepared to withstand those risks of damage necessarily incidental to transportation.”

Share our tips with your team on how to:
• select the right packaging materials
• stretch wrap and secure your freight on a skid
• stack cartons on palletized freight
• avoid shock and vibration during transportation

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