3 errors on truck loading operations and how to prevent them

Inaccurately estimating the weight and size of cargo is the most common error shipping companies make. Some shippers may be using data from customers to calculate their estimates. This can lead to the incorrect weight and size being recorded and an overloading issue occurring during the loading phase.

To avoid a delay due to the incorrect record, consider double-checking the weight and size of your cargo by recalculating your estimates. Although time-consuming, it helps prevent overloading issues from occurring, which saves time, money and effort in the overall shipping order. It also reduces the amount of time to correct billing discrepancies during cargo audits.

Being unaware of the transit and turnaround time can lead to extremely delayed orders. The transit time is measured by the number of hours or days it takes for your cargo to reach your customer’s destination once it leaves your shipping facility. Being aware of the transit time helps you with logistics planning.

As for the turnaround time, you’re measuring the time when your shipping truck arrives in your facility against its time of departure. Recording this time helps you determine the efficiency levels of your productivity and receiving processes.

Heavy cargo can put uneven pressure on your shipping truck’s tires. When loading cargo in your truck, make sure it’s distributed evenly in the storage space. Around 60 per cent of the cargo should be placed in the front of the axle to prevent the truck’s wheels from being misaligned.

Besides distributing your cargo’s weight, the process of loading cargo in a truck can also be improved. Some shippers still resort to manually loading their cargo by hand. Although this saves them money from buying expensive loading systems, it affects the quality of the cargo and the speed of loading the cargo in their truck.