By that it means that you have as many packages packed into the space as possible. The goal is to minimize your empty space. This means you’re transporting as many products as possible per load, which will reduce the number of shipments required. This, in turn, reduces your shipping costs. With companies needing to cut costs wherever they can, reducing the number of shipments needed can have a major impact on the budget.
In addition to reducing your overall costs, there are a number of other reasons why optimizing your shipments is beneficial. First is that it reduces the potential risks to your products. When there is unused space around each package, it leaves room for packages to move. They may slide into each other, fall if stacked, or otherwise get damaged
Second, optimized shipments are safer for people to work around. When a shipment’s weight isn’t distributed properly, packages stacked on top of each other may suddenly fall and land on people. It’s also possible a truck could even tip over if the weight is shifted to one side. Dangerous chemicals or other hazardous materials could then leak out, leading to further safety issues in addition to environmental contamination.
Finally, shipments that are not optimized may not meet shipping requirements. This can lead to a number of fines and other penalties, including losing licenses or certifications. Many private shipping organizations have additional rules and requirements that will be specified in your contract. Failure to comply with these rules will likely result in voiding your contract.