Some freight will not fit neatly onto a pallet.

● Increased risk of damage if special care is not given

● Unique items call for unique packing to ensure their protection

FACE IT

The right packaging = the right protection

PACKAGING OPTIONS

Problem: Bags can be easily punctured.

Solution:● Place a sheet of cardboard on the pallet

before placing the bags to prevent them from “sagging” between the deck boards.

● Stack in an interlocked formation to prevent shifting.

● Don’t overhang the pallet!!● Protect the perimeter with cardboard

before wrapping with a generous amount of stretch wrap.

BAGS

Problem: Shifting and Sliding

● Do not band to a pallet, as it presents a shifting hazard

Solution:● The best way is to bundle them into crates

● If crating is not an option, use metal bands and nylon chokers

Special note: If product can be damaged from coming into contact with freight handling equipment, it should be packaged to eliminate anything from coming in contact with it.

LONG OBJECTS

● To prevent puncture from a raised nail head, place a sheet of cardboard on top of the pallet before placing the drums.

● If stacked on a pallet, secure with banding or shrink wrap.

● All pallets should have solid deck boards with minimal gaps

● Drums should be as close to center as possible

Special note: Drums are single stack only. Pails can be stacked three high.

DRUMS/PAILS

WHAT IS DUNNAGE?

● Inexpensive materials used to load and protect freight during transit

● Examples: Packing Peanuts, cardboard, boards, blocks

Secure to skids in all four directions with metal, plastic, or nylon banding

GAYLORDS

Problem: They roll!

Solution:● Anchor reels through the center to a

pallet and add blocking and bracing to form a “cradle”.

● This eliminates rolling and shifting during transit

REELS

Image TK

(image of reel properly secured to pallet)Will probably need to shoot this.

Problem: Easy to damage

Solution:● Should have an inner packaging core to allow

for use of forklift attachments ● Cover product completely with protective

plastic

ROLLS

Problem: Easy to tip over!

Solution:● Items with a high center of gravity

should be banded to a wider base to prevent tipping

● Placard two sides as “Top Heavy”

TOP HEAVY ITEMS

● If you can’t secure it, crate it!● Important!! Strengthen the corners

and edges for protection● Perfect for high value or hard to

package items

CRATES

In this example, the corners and edges are reinforced, but doesn’t offer much in the way of strength. A heavy crate stacked on top may crush it.

CRATESMINIMUM PROTECTION

● Vertical supports like these increase strength by about 1.2 times

● Still not very strong, but better

CRATESMORE PROTECTION

● A single diagonal board on each side of the crate makes it about 6 times stronger.

● Now we’re getting there!

CRATESMEDIUM PROTECTION

● Adding two diagonal boards to each side of the crate makes it nearly 12 times stronger!

● You want your freight to be protected by something 12 times stronger, right?

CRATESMAXIMUM PROTECTION

● Use three-way interlocking corners when attaching reinforcement boards

● Nail into the grain to tie the two sides of the crate together.

CRATESINTERLOCKING CORNERS

WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO BUILD A CRATE?

SHIPPING CRATES

What to look for when ordering service: ● Easy to assemble

● Easy to ship

● Maximum Protection

● Security – does it lock?

● Can you track and trace it?

View the next slide for a video on how to assemble a You Crate, a popular product from R+L Carriers.

YOU CRATE

Need help?Call 800-546-5589 or visit RLC.com

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For additional crating options visit youcrate.com