Creating a team mentality among the players in your company’s shipping sphere is key to avoiding cargo damage liabilities. When everyone shares the same goal of keeping costs as low as possible, experience and satisfaction grow and interaction shifts from blame to safe and secure fulfillment.

With Photector, the industry leading tool that protects against unwarranted cargo damage claims, companies can project confidence, consistency and strength by promoting an atmosphere of fairness in an otherwise blame-filled industry when dealing with damages and unnecessary costs.

Here are some tips to ensure the right moves are made by all parties as cargo moves it way through the transportation system, and damages during transportation are avoided.

When selecting the carrier or transportation company you want to work with, consider the following preventative measures to make sure high standards are meet from the get go:

1. Inspect the carriers trucks.
2. Conduct a site inspection of the carrier’s facility and operation.
3. Ask if the carrier conducts background checks on staff responsible for shipments.
4. Inquire about the carrier’s claims rate.
5. What quality standards does the carrier practice? Common industry standards such as ISO9000?
6. How is cargo moved within the carrier’s facility?
7. Is the facility secure?
8. Does the carrier conduct dock checks? Do separate shipping and receiving operations exist for security?
9. Is the equipment state of the art?
10. Is the carrier T.A.P.A certified?

Once a carrier has been selected, have clear guidelines for vendors when it comes to packaging your products and materials. Proactive procedures such as shared checklists and requirements are essential, as are regular QA checks, confirm packing is meeting company standards:

1. Specify the container for the shipments, taking into account weight thresholds.
2. Make sure there is adequate room for packing material to cushion products.
3. Wrap items in the container separately.
4. Ensure proper banding and closure of the shipping container.

Once packaged, proper labeling of freight is critical for direct and timely delivery:

1. Place the label on the top of the container and ensure it’s the only one visible. Remove any old and outdated labels.
2. Include a duplicate address label inside the container.
3. Ensure a return address is visible on the label as well.

Change of custody for shipments provides a great opportunity to continue to foster teamwork and ensure the shipment arrives to final destination intact and undamaged.

1. Verify freight and condition prior to signing for shipment with qualified and trained staff.
2. Compare the freight to the bill of lading or freight bill. Is the box count correct? Is the freight undamaged? Are the bands broken? Are the boxes open or marred? If so, Photector can be utilized to capture and document the damage for correct damage claim processing.
3. Properly move and store the freight according to company guidelines once the inspection is completed.

When these preventative procedures are followed, companies can more successfully avoid cargo damage liabilities.

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