Optimizing container and truck loads
Introduction to Load Optimizing:
In today’s competitive economic climate, companies are in the continuous challenge to cut costs in every aspect of the operations, while still maintaining high service levels to customers. An important subject is to target cost take-out operations in the optimization of the supply chain. Whether you are an industrial manufacturer, international or domestic carrier, a retailer or into any business where the words “cargo”, “freight” or “shipment” are in your business language, you are confronted with the need for solutions that offer optimal efficiency. One of the aspects in the supply that require special attention is container and truck loading.
Why optimize your truck and container load?
There are several reasons why you should optimize your load and the most obvious one is that by getting more products into one container, you need to ship fewer containers which means you
reduce your shipping expenses. However there are many more reasons that are often overlooked.
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One of them is
reducing damages. A non optimized load means you have unused space in the container. This space can make the products move against each other or even collapse when the container is subject to rough handling. Damaged products not only come with high costs, but they also lead to a decreased customer satisfaction which in turn can lead to reduced business. There are several options to fill empty space such as; dunnage bags, pallets, wood or you can secure your load with lashes (but then again you are increasing your costs for shipping obsolete material).
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Another very important issue is
safety. Poorly loaded cargo can put you and your customers’ employees at great risk. Trucks loaded with improper weight distribution can tip over in traffic, with all possible consequences, and you as sender will be held responsible. In some cases, dangerous liquids and other substances can leak out of a broken package and cause environmental pollution and compromise people’s health.
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Last but not least there are
regulations to comply with. Storage, cargo handling and transport of goods are covered by both national and international regulations, which all have set minimum requirements for treatment of goods, vehicle use etc. Public regulatory guidelines are supplemented by private agreements and terms and conditions of business.
Some basic guidelines to load a container
Inspect the container
First of all, the container should be carefully inspected before loading anything inside. Check for residue or contamination on the floor, there might be a hazardous substance that could injure you or react with your cargo. Inspect the container for structural damage, like holes, cracks or signs of impact damage to main floor bearers or corner posts that may make the shipping container unsafe to lift. Look for nails protruding from the floor and remove them. Timber blocks and battens are often nailed to floors, and protruding nails are often left behind. These are a frequent cause of damage to packages, or drums in particular.
Heavy materials go first
Start with the large and heavy items and load them on the floor against the front wall of the container. Continue loading heavier items on the floor and towards the front of the container, placing lighter items on top. To an experienced loader, it is a simple decision to load the heavy cases first, however an inexperienced loader may not notice the difference in weight and simply see an opportunity to build a flat platform with the lighter boxes.
Divide weight over the container
If the container is loaded to its maximum capacity, the weight of the cargo must be distributed as evenly as possible over the floor area. The load-carrying components of the container floor structure are the bottom side rails, which absorb the load of a cargo via the container floor. For safe transport, it is important for, as many as possible, of the bottom rails to be loaded. Point loads are to be avoided, since they can damage the container floor. Point loads always occur when relatively high weights are concentrated on a small bearing area.
Advanced tools to reach an optimal container load
When greater volumes are shipped in containers, it is important to plan ahead. However, calculating how many cases should fit in a container can be time consuming and an automated solution might be necessary. For this, a large variety of software packs exist to answer to specific needs in the industry. The software usually needs input values such as volume, weight, dimensions, additional restrictions, and uses advanced algorithms to calculate the most optimal load planning. Several solutions are offered and usually a 3D graphic representation gives you a visual insight. Some applications combine load optimization with pallet planning software, to further develop the most efficient and effective solutions.