What is wedging and securing of cargo?
Loading goods into a transport vehicle (light, heavy or super heavy goods vehicle) requires the utmost care, to avoid incidents that can lead to breakage and disputes. The aim when wedging and securing goods is to stabilize them to prevent them from falling and rubbing. When protecting parcels and pallets during stowage and securing, it’s important to bear in mind that all actions taken are aimed at improving the customer experience, with a view to customer satisfaction and loyalty… Because goods that arrive in a poor state of repair, greatly damage your brand image and your relationship with your customers!
Why do you need to pay special attention to chocking and securing as a carrier?
Wedging, as the name suggests, refers to theaction of wedging goods in the vehicle. It echoes the operations carried out to ensure that the load is secured and perfectly immobilized. Stowage, on the other hand, refers to the processes used to secure goods to floors and walls. Quite similar, these two terms are sometimes used to designate the same actions and can be substituted for each other.
When shipping parcels or pallets, everything must be perfectly secured to avoid breakage or loss. Wedging also serves to limit the circulation of products within the packaging: an essential step, especially for the most fragile goods. Well-thought-out cushioning, based on the right accessories, can also lead to productivity gains on the packaging line (well-established processes, choice of efficient, practical accessories).
For all shipments under 3 tonnes, the carrier is responsible for loading, chocking and securing. Even if he doesn’t physically carry out the work, he must pass on all his instructions to the loader who does.
A few tips for securing your merchandise
In order to achieve good stowage, it’s important to make the right choices, those that allow you toadapt the dunnage solutions to the merchandise (its dimensions, shape and the nature of the products being shipped). Various topping or vacuum-filling solutions can be used – but it’s vital to select the right alternatives between bubble, foam, cardboard or paper protection, or pallet inserts that prevent slippage.
If you’d like to create a better wedge and stabilize all your goods, you can use dunnage plates and create partitions at all levels (vertical, horizontal, between rooms).
There’s no one-size-fits-all advice when it comes to choosing the right dunnage and lashing accessories to secure your goods. In all cases, the ideal is to be able to adapt to the sector and the type of merchandise. For example, spacer plates are essential in the food industry to prevent products from bumping into each other. In the pharmaceutical industry, however, we prefer honeycomb plates and cross-braces to protect fragile parts.
To ensure that the goods are properly secured, the loader must follow all the carrier’s recommendations when placing the packages or pallets in the vehicle. Don’t hesitate to ask Transports Goëvia for advice on how to best protect your goods.
Guide
How do I choose my carrier?
Find out all our tips for selecting a freight forwarder according to your needs and managing this service provider:
- Find the best value for money
- Adopting an eco-responsible approach
- Qualify your needs
