Preparing Your LTL Shipment

Are you shipping goods with an LTL freight company? Properly preparing and labeling your shipment will help your freight get where it’s going in a timely manner, without being damaged.

For effective packaging and labeling, we recommend following these tips:

Use Shrink Wrap

When using LTL freight to ship a pallet that is tall or top heavy, make sure you overlap layers of shrink wrap, and twist the shrink wrap every other time around your goods. This provides an added layer of stability, while the twist will give your wrapping added strength. Additionally, because freight is jostled while in transit, make sure you wrap the freight directly to the skid. This will keep it from slipping — or worse, falling off completely.

Inspect Your Pallets

Make sure pallets are in good condition. Look out for broken boards or nails that can puncture freight— and, for additional protection, add a sheet of cardboard or chipboard between your freight and the pallet. Furthermore, always make sure you position your freight so that it doesn’t hang off the skid. Overhanging freight is much more likely to be damaged, either by other freight, by the trailer wall, or by the skid itself.

Label Smart

Make sure you label each handling unit. Each label needs to match the Bill of Lading (BOL) and clearly show the name and address of the shipper and consignee. If you have any special handling requirements, such as “do not break down”, “do not stack”, or “this end up”, make sure you use brightly colored labels to identify these needs.

If you have any other questions, contact us for your needs from a single pallet to a full truckload when shipping freight in Canada and the USA. CSA welcomes the opportunity to assist with an upcoming freight quote!