Transportation Cargo Rules

Stow and secure your cargo for transportation

How to stow and secure your cargo during transportation for maximum protection:

  • There are many sources of information that are giving tips regarding the proper way to stow and secure your cargo.
  • This information depends on the way and the kind of transportation.
  • Most of them are very similar, especially when refers to secure cargos which are transported safely.
  • Our following advices, are based, among other sources, in code CTU (Cargo Transport Units – Units freight) by the IMO (International Maritime Organization – International Maritime Organization).

Meet the forces that brought the cargo.

Make sure that your cargo is stowed and adequately insured against the forces that is expected to receive during the trip.
The forces which applied to road, rail and sea transport are big,
with lateral forces applied to extend to the 0,8 G. (1g = 9,81 m/s2)

Find out if the climate will change during the trip of your product.

The change in climatic conditions (temperature – humidity) has, as a result, the perspiration and moisture of your goods.
Several times in loads with long transit time, we encounter the phenomenon, called as ” rain ” in the container.
To avoid these effects on your cargo, we suggest the use of Cargo Driers, which absorb moisture inside the container.

Prepare the stacking of your load.

This is mainly referring to your new loads.
Before loading the container or the truck, stack all your cargo in an area with the same size as the unit of transportation.
This will help to discern what the most suitable way of shipment is and which materials you’ll have to use to ensure the stability of the load.
Make sure there is no gap, because if there are gaps, even very small ones, are matching together to a big gap
with the first movement of the container or the truck and allow the movement of your goods.
Proper stacking:

  • Lightweight goods must be placed on top of heavy goods.
  • Solid goods should be placed along or at the top of the liquid goods.

Technically made floors may be necessary between the layers of the load, such drums, to prevent sliding or to prevent the collapse of packing!

Hazardous loads marking must be clearly visible and should be placed near the doors of the container or the truck, for quick removal if necessary.

Inspect the floor of the container or the truck before loading.

Make sure that the container or the truck is clean and intact.
Wipe if needed!

During loading, ensure that the centre of gravity of the load is equally distributed along the length and width of the container or the truck.

Weight distribution. Make sure that the weight of your load is evenly distributed in length and width, of the container or truck.

For equal distribution and protection of your loads from shifts and impacts, use of CARGO AIRBAGS  are highly recommended.

Use Cardboard Grip sheets to increase friction and prevent movement of the load.

An important factor to prevent movement of the load is the frictional force between the goods among themselves and also among the floor.

You can increase these frictional forces using anti-slip friction sheets with a factor according to your needs.

Should be taken special care with loads extremely slippery as sheet metal and painted pipes where it is almost imperative the use of anti-slip material.

Prevent the fall of the goods from the door of the container or the truck upon arrival at the destination.

In the final stages of loading a container or a truck, measures should be taken in order to prevent the fall of your cargo by opening the door on arrival at the destination or any inspection that may need to happen.

We recommend using of (SAFETY SHEETS) to prevent it.

Another way to prevent this damage of your cargo, is to use airbags rear the container’s door.(CARGO AIRBAGS)

Do not assume that heavy loads cannot move easily.

Do not assume that heavy loads cannot move!

All cargoes, regardless of weight, move when are not adequately secured and subjected to a force bigger than the friction forces.

A cargo of 10 tonnes will move as easily as a 1 ton cargo when subjected to 1 g force during braking.

However, the 10 tonne cargo will do much more damage with it’s movement!

At the end we want to inform you that there are two more materials that ensure the economy and security of your cargo: CONTAINER LINERS and FLEXI TANKS

CONTAINER LINERS are specially shaped sacs that occupy the entire interior of the container and used for the carriage of solid bulk cargoes such as food, plastic, animal feed etc.
The basic characteristics of container liners are the following:

  • Replace sacks transport and offer a reduction in packaging costs per tonne at least 50%
  • Requires minimal storage space
  • Are recyclable
  • The installation does not require more than one person and the average installation time does not exceed 6 minutes
  • No need for container cleaning after delivery of the product

FLEXI TANKS on the other hand are synthetic bags that are placed on the inner wall of the container and convert it into tank transport of bulk liquid cargoes.Product which is created through the need to reduce dependence on ISO tanks that due to the limited fleet and problems of safety and cleanliness levels caused problems in management and cost.

The advantages of flexi tanks are:

  • The low weight
  • A very easy and quick way of loading and unloading of product
  • Acceptance Insurance loads Flexi Tanks by insurance companies
  • Avoiding costs of cleaning the container after unloading
  • The ease of finding simple conventional container compared with the limited fleet of iso tanks
  • Competitive price
  • The variety of liquid products that can carry

NOTE : You must take special care for loads of dangerous goods.

  • Should be given special attention when you stack and secure loads in this category.
  • There are separate codes for dangerous goods ( IMO / ADR / IMDG / RID) and you should consult them before stow secure and transport.
  • Two of the most simple, but important points to look for are:
    • The cargo must not be able to move at all! The use of materials (CARGO AIRBAGS) (GRIP SHEETS) will help you.
    • The security of your load should not affect the actual packaging.

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