Keep Your Cargo Safe With 5 Best Practices

Extreme weather conditions, crashes, theft, documentation errors, mechanical issues, and labor disputes are just a fraction of the risks that can affect even the most well-orchestrated global shipment.

Protecting the products you’re transporting will not only safeguard your brand reputation but your bottom line as well. At Beltmann Integrated Logistics, we strive to educate customers on the most effective ways to keep their cargo out of danger and avoid significant financial losses. Here are five cargo risk management best practices you can implement right away:

1. Choose a reliable carrier.

Cargo operations entail a lot of moving parts and you need to be able to trust the people you work with. Carriers that offer services for international freight forwarders might overstate their expertise and resources, so make sure you thoroughly research each vendor before placing your precious cargo into their hands. Some things to look for: the number of years they’ve been operating, successful projects completed, available infrastructure, and their staff’s expertise.

2. Ensure you're compliant with health and safety regulations. 

International freight forwarding relies on heavy-duty machines and equipment to get the job done, but this also means that employees and cargo handlers are more exposed to health and safety hazards. Specific regulations apply to the transport of various goods, and being compliant with them will help you avoid costly fines or even a lawsuit.

3. Buy the appropriate amount of cargo insurance.

Investing in comprehensive freight forwarder insurance is the easiest way to protect the value of goods, but you first need to understand the amount of coverage you need. A simple calculation would be to estimate the chance of a crisis occurring and multiplying it by the cost you’d be facing if disaster would become reality.

Here’s an example:

1% Probability of an event X $1M in Cargo Value = $10K Potential Loss

Aside from lost revenue, having coverage is also mandatory in certain countries. These nations authorize export and import operations only to carriers who can bring proof of an insurance certificate for their cargo. Make sure your logistics provider has in-house risk management professionals to help shed light on potential liabilities in the supply chain.

4. Invest in durable packaging. 

Goods can easily be damaged at any point during their journey whether it’s from poor handling, weather hazards, or pilferage. It’s of utmost importance that you choose the right packaging material. Examples include heavy-duty boxes and protective stuffing materials.

Avoid spending a fortune on packaging by:

• Paying for product dimensions versus box dimensions.
• Automating time-consuming packaging tasks.
• Substituting boxes with padded envelopes for smaller products.
• Negotiating a good shipping rate, especially if you’re transporting a large volume of products on a consistent basis.

Mitigating the uncertainties of damaging goods on their way to a destination is an essential step of successful cargo shipping risk management.

5. Increase transportation security.

Whether it’s before, during, or after transit, you might need to store your goods and commodities in secure locations for extended periods of time. This is why you should make safety and security arrangements at these storage depots and sites, starting with an evaluation of the environment and hazards. It’s also wise to look for local support services such as fire and police protection. Ensuring adequate access controls will go a long way toward keeping your goods intact.

Beltmann Integrated Logistics leverages an impressive curated list of warehouses, carriers, and local service providers and we would be happy to become an extension of your staff. Our innovative processes and external resources allow us to deliver cost-effective logistics services that fit your unique business objectives. Browse our project logistic experience or contact us today.

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Keep Your Cargo Safe with 5 Best Practices 1. Choose a reliable carrier. Cargo operations entail a lot of moving parts and you need to be able to trust the people you work with. Carriers that offer services for international freight forwarders might overstate their expertise and resources, so make sure you thoroughly research each vendor before placing your precious cargo into their hands. Some things to look for: the number of years they’ve been operating, successful project completed, available infrastructure, and their staff’s expertise. 2. Ensure you’re compliant with health and safety regulations. International freight forwarding relies on heavy-duty machines and equipment to get the job done, but this also means that employees and cargo handlers are more exposed to health and safety hazards. Specific regulations apply to the transport of various goods, and being compliant with them will help you avoid costly fines or even a lawsuit. 3. Buy the appropriate amount of cargo insurance. Investing in comprehensive freight forwarder insurance is the easiest way to protect the value of goods, but you first need to understand the amount of coverage you need. A simple calculation would be to estimate the chance of a crisis occurring and multiplying it by the cost you’d be facing if disaster would become reality. 4. Invest in durable packaging. Goods can easily be damaged at any point during their journey whether it’s from poor handling, weather hazards, or pilferage. It’s of the utmost importance that you choose the right packaging material. Examples include heavy-duty boxes and protective stuffing materials. Mitigating the uncertainties of damaging goods on their way to a destination is an essential step of successful cargo shipping risk management. 5. Increase transportation security. Whether it’s before, during, or after transit, you might need to store your goods and commodities in secure locations for extended periods of time. This is why you should make safety and security arrangements at these storage depots and sites, starting with an evaluation of the environment and hazards. It’s also wise to look for local support services such as fire and police protection. Ensuring adequate access controls will go a long way toward keeping your goods intact. Beltmann Integrated Logistics leverages an impressive curated list of warehouses, carriers, and local service providers and we would be happy to become an extension of your staff. Our innovative processes and external resources allow us to deliver cost-effective logistics services that fit your unique business objectives. Browse our project logistic experience or contact us today.