Top Strategies to Help Freight Brokers Reduce Lost and Damaged Shipments

According to Satish Jindel, president of SJ Consulting Group, length of haul has declined. Public truckload carriers report that the average length of haul has decreased 4% between 2011 and 2016. But regardless of these changes in shipping trends, one element will always remain the same: it\’s up to freight brokers to safely manage and store their cargo. Otherwise, damaged and lost goods become inevitable. Without further ado, here are just a few tips to help freight brokers reduce lost and damaged shipments.

Evenly Distribute Weight
When stacking the packages that are headed for distribution, make sure to use pallets properly. Pallets are designed to minimize the potential for damage that occurs when packages hit against each other during freight. It\’s okay to stack packages close together — in fact, it\’s actually recommended — but this means you\’ll have to make sure there are no mismatched package shapes that could contribute to an uneven weight distribution that leads to damage. Taking a few extra minutes to ensure that the freight is stored properly can help reduce damages.

Protect Labels
Even a package will extremely well-protected contents can have a cheap or flimsy label. U.S. e-commerce revenue is about $423.3 billion and is steadily climbing, and the number of companies adding to this revenue is growing every day. That being said, you can\’t always determine the contents of a package just by looking at its label, and even a slightly damaged label can lead to a lost shipment. It\’s also a good idea to ensure that the label states how much weight can be added on top of the package, if any.

Invest in a High-Quality TMS System
Finally, investing in high-quality TMS systems can help you ensure safety and accuracy of all your freight. Shipment tracking integrations have made it easier than ever to keep track on each and every one of your shipments to reduce delays and improve efficiency.

Trucks carry the largest share of freight by value, tons, and ton-miles for shipments moving 750 or fewer miles. Rail, on the other hand, is the dominant mode by tons and ton-miles for shipments moved from 750 to 2,000 miles. But regardless of the mode of transportation, understanding these tips can help you get started on your mission to reduce lost and damage shipments. For more information about TMS systems, contact 3PL Systems.