Package lobbed onto your porch roof by an unhelpful delivery driver? Letter arrived unsealed with the contents missing?
Most of us have experienced problems with sending and receiving parcels and letters at some point.
When it comes to cargo, the stakes are much higher. Here we’ll run through the top 5 freight problems, giving you a baseline of the most likely risks and what you can do to avoid them.
#1 – Damaged Goods
Damage in transit is probably the #1 concern on anyone’s list.
Goods that break or suffer damage whilst journeying to their destination lose value and can become unsellable. You also have the hassle of sorting replacements or filing claims to sort the financial side of things out, which can be a big headache.
Multiple types of damage can occur:
- Physical damage, like breakages, dents and abrasions.
- Water damage
- Contamination
- Infestation
- Spoiling (of perishable goods)
How To Avoid Damaged Cargo
There are 3 main ways to protect your cargo.
Proper Packaging
Your cargo is likely travelling a significant distance and changing hands – and even modes of transport – multiple times. These factors mean that preventing damage during transit starts with proper packing.
Selecting the packaging and dunnage best suited to your goods is the perfect place to start. From cardboard boxes and wooden crates to corten steel containers, there are various combinations to choose from. Read up on how to package cargo for shipping in our handy guide.
Correct Handling
When choosing a forwarder or carrier, opt for a reputable company that you know will take care of your consignment.
Remember Insurance
Cargo insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but it’s worth getting. The cover provided by carriers is minimal and unlikely to be sufficient if things go wrong; cargo insurance is designed to provide cover against loss, damage and theft of goods during transit. Coverage varies between providers, but most policies also look after delayed shipment costs, non-delivery by a carrier, and delays caused by unforeseen events such as natural disasters and force majeure.
#2 – Delayed Deliveries
Second on the list of shipping peeves is delayed goods.
In some instances, a delay is a small inconvenience; in others, it can be catastrophic. Imagine your Christmas stock not arriving until mid-December, when you’ll likely miss the key shopping window.
Delays happen for all kinds of reasons:
- Adverse weather
- Staff shortages or strikes
- Mis-labelled goods
- Lack of correct documentation
- Port congestion and traffic
- Poor planning
- Failure of equipment
- Global events
How To Avoid Delayed Goods
Let’s look at the 3 top ways of preventing delays.
Plan Ahead
The easiest way to prevent delays is to employ rigorous planning. Using previous years’ numbers can help with this, enabling you to spot trends and forecast wisely. Factor in sufficient time allowances and communicate generous lead times through the supply chain to make sure no one ends up disappointed.
Clear Labelling
From blurry writing and inaccurate content descriptions to missing paperwork, there’s a lot that can go wrong with the labelling of your consignments.
Different goods have different requirements depending on what they are and where they’re off to. Dangerous goods, for example, will need to be labelled differently from perishable or fragile goods. Countries may also have different regulations regarding this, so it’s always best to check before sending.
Correct Documentation
Don’t get caught out with this one. Do you know which documents you need when importing goods to the UK? Find out here.
Choose A Reliable Forwarder
Have you used your chosen forwarder before? Have they got a good reputation, and can they prove it?
If you’re new to shipping, research before putting all your eggs (or other cargo) in one basket.
#3 – Poor Communication
Knowing where your consignment is means that you can plan around your expected delivery. But as not all shipping is tracked, you can easily lose track of your cargo because you only have the basic information to hand.
Maintaining efficient communication with your forwarder will mean you have more control and can organise other elements of the shipment’s delivery to ensure minimal delays.
How To Avoid Poor Communication
This one is simple.
Before you select your freight forwarder, check if they provide tracking! If they do, find out how accurate and up-to-date it is. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – this could make all the difference.
#4 – High Costs
Freight rates have risen in recent years due to a variety of factors.
From container shortages to fuel increases to driver disputes – all of this has meant that moving goods has seen an incline in cost.
While using the cheapest company you can find is tempting, don’t forget to check that everything is covered. Often, unscrupulous businesses artificially reduce their price by either cutting back on things like insurance or adding it on later, which brings their ‘cheap’ price up.
How To Avoid High Costs
To bring down your outgoings, use a freight forwarder. With such a vast network behind them, forwarders have buying power and get better rates.
Wondering what goes into your freight rates? Read up on the topic in this blog.
#5 – Confusing Processes
The paperwork involved in moving goods around the world is pretty hefty. There are plenty of rules and regulations to adhere to – and they differ across the globe. Even sending goods to the EU has changed in the last few years.
How To Avoid Confusion
With rules and regs changing all the time, and so many things to get right, the easiest way to prevent confusion-related delays is to use experts who know the processes inside out and can do all the tricky bits of the shipping process for you.
Professional Forwarders Take The Stress Out Of Shipping
Worried about your goods being delayed?
You can avoid all these problems – and more – by using people who are dedicated to getting your goods wherever they need to be. And if you hadn’t guessed, we’re those people. Call Millennium today for friendly advice and gold-standard service.