The following some general best practices for shippers with regard to dealing with oversized items being shipped by common carriers.
Choose pallets large enough to prevent overhang of shipment pieces. Many times, shippers will place oversized items (even if only by a few inches) on standard sized pallets. This means that sections of the freight will hang over the sizes of the pallets. Not only can this cause problems with billing, if the pallets can't fit next to other freight int the truck, but it can also result in damage to the item being shipped.
Pallets with broken boards or nail heads that stick up can also become a liability for your cargo.
Whenver possible, use pallets with four-way forklift entry, since they help to improve handling and reduce damage to the shipment.
Lastly, use strapping or banding to secure your shipment to the pallet, and stretch wrap (use a minimum of 60 gauge, five revolutions recommended) to prevent pieces from getting lost or separated from the load.
If you're thinking about moving a shipment, contact the quote team at GlobalForwarding.com at (877) 287-0804, or use the shipment calculator on our website for instant rates. We can even add extra insurance for valuable shipments!
