When transporting your goods, you want to be assured that your assets are in safe hands and their trip will be as planned and without incident.

You also want to know that your goods are being transported in a responsible and legal manner that isn’t causing undue harm or creating an unnecessary impact on the natural environment by the hauliers, especially when it comes to heavy haulage.

Safe is as Safe Does

Safety of your cargo transport isn’t just reliant on your chosen transport type or company. It is also dependent on how well you pack your goods and what type of planning you have put in place. Don’t send items by freight transport that are affected badly by heat in the middle of summer and consider the way you pack and transport goods of a delicate nature. Items that are alive, such as plants, will also need special consideration and may not be safe on many forms of transport.

Security of goods

Any reputable transport company will have policies and procedures in place to ensure that their customer’s goods are safe from theft and preventable damage. A road transport company should have secure facilities at each end and policies in place for drivers in regards to security of goods when driving. Rail freight should be stored in secure facilities as should any type of sea freight shipping. Most transport companies will have screened their employees and most will have surveillance at their depots. If you are transporting goods via shipping container, consider getting locks on the container.

Ways to ensure your goods are safe during transport

• Always use a reputable transport company and don’t be afraid to ask questions about their security policy and procedures. A good company will have security as part of their quality processes.
• Secure your items as best you can. Lock your shipping containers or ship your goods in containers that can be locked. If you are transporting goods on a pallet, consider having it wrapped for safety.
• If you are shipping chemicals you will be required to declare this when arranging for transport. Correct and full disclosure of this information contributes to the safe transport of everyone’s goods.
• Protective wrapping and containers will not only prevent damage from movement and handling but will also protect your goods from weather and dirt.
• Make sure your goods are dry and clean when placing them into shipping containers. If your goods are clean and dry they are less likely to contribute to the deterioration of protective wrapping.
• If you are having furniture and other goods shipped, remember to use boxes that are strong and don’t overfill them. Cover furniture with drop sheets once you have packed it in the container or truck.

Safety of your goods should be a key consideration when transporting goods and you shouldn’t rely solely on insurance for peace of mind. No amount of insurance is going to replace personal items and insurance may cover the cost of goods, but it won’t cover the time and stress that having a load of transported goods damaged or stolen will take. Use common sense and precautions for the safest transport option for your goods.