If you are shipping large quantities of certain items, you must palletize your boxes. This is extremely important because it is the most efficient way to store items in transit, and most carriers will require it.
As your boxes should be palletized before they come to pick them up, you must be ready to do it and do it the right way.
Let’s begin by reviewing how to pack a pallet and package your items:
A) First, keep in mind that the carrier’s responsibility is to move your goods from point A to point B, so it is your job to package your items as well as possible.
B) It is important to package your items with a strong pallet stretch film to protect them from the inside out.
C) Use the best-quality packaging materials you can find. Believe me, you will save time and work. You will need:
- Boxes
- Quality Pallets
- Stretch film and wrap
How to Prepare Your Cargo For Transport
1) Use Stretch Film
The best way to prevent your items from shifting is to use stretch film and pallet straps. These two tools are the best for pallet load stability and safety. Stretch wrap is an excellent form to keep your items immobile since it clings tightly and can hold a lot of weight.
Remember to use a nano stretch film around the bottom of the pallet. In Malaysia, there are established stretch film manufacturers, such as Thong Guan so you should not have any problem finding the right one.
2) Pack Your Items In Each Individual Box
To maximize the pallet load securing you need to make sure to properly pack your items in each individual box. The boxes should have no air inside and you need to make sure they are full.
If there is air, your items could get damaged during shipping. Do whatever you need to do to adjust the box to your items, for example, you can use bubble wrap, or cut the box.
To close the boxes, you can use tape, even though it is a better option to use stretch film, as it will properly secure the boxes and save you money and hassle.
3) Place The Heaviest Boxes In The Bottom
If you have different-sized boxes on the same pallet, you must place the largest and heaviest boxes at the bottom. This way you are building a solid foundation of your stack. Big, heavy boxes can support more weight and it will keep the smaller boxes in place and stable.
It is better not to use a pyramid shape as placing all the small boxes on the top can make it less stable than you can imagine. The best solution is to place smaller boxes evenly throughout the stack.
4) Use Enough Stretch Wrap
As mentioned, the best way to secure your pallet load is to use stretch film. Make sure to use enough stretch film, wrap 3 to 5 times. It is important to use high-quality stretch film as you don’t want your goods to be damaged.
When you are wrapping your boxes, make sure to wrap the top part but leave a small space so the pallet is accessible to the forklift. This way the pallet would not separate from the boxes when the forklift tilt to transport.
Finally, if you want more strength, don’t forget to twist the stretch wrap.
5) Use Labels
It is important to use labels to help workers handle your items safely. Also, labels will speed things up when the other party is receiving them. It is important to use the correct type of labels and to know exactly what labelling practising your items require, so do simple research to do it right.
6) Ask Your Carrier For Any Additional Rules
Every carrier has additional rules you need to know to stack and wrap your items. Make sure to read carefully all the freight carrier’s regulation for palletized goods. It is important to know the specific packaging codes when shipping via air, ground or maritime freight.
The Bottom Line
Learning how to properly palletize your shipping boxes will ensure safer and easier transportation. Just make sure to use high-quality materials, especially pallet stretch film to protect your items and avoid any problems with your carrier.
