Shipping Risks – And How To Avoid Them!

Logistics and shipping is not an easy thing. There are many actors that need to be taken into consideration, and there are safety measures that must be followed in order to minimise risk.

As the person doing the shipping your goods, it’s your responsibility to be in the know and up to date on any regulations that may apply to the goods that you’re shipping.

Assuming the goods are non-hazardous is a common mistake. There are in fact a lot of commercial products that needing to be shipped which contain hazardous material, and the reality is – any shipment could contain these. If you are shipping something hazardous, make sure all employees in the supply chain are aware of this and given proper protective gloves or clothing. Any hazardous materials should also be marked as such on their exterior.

It’s easy to assume that everyday items you would find in a supermarket are non-hazardous, however this is far from the truth. Batteries, dry ice and anything genetically modified can come under special regulations applied to hazardous materials. Make sure you do your research about any product you’re shipping especially if you’re having any doubts about it’s nature.

Another key risk you take on when you’re shipping products is being able to comply with all the regulations of the country of origin and the destination country of your goods. Before you even think about shipping anything, it’s essential to read up on the rules and regulations specific to the country you’re considering. Most of these can be easily found online on the relevant government website. Always ensure you’re taking information from an official source and don’t ship anything you’re unsure about. Having your goods rejected can be a costly experience as they may not come back to you in perfect form, or in some cases they may not be returned at all.

You should always consider what you’re using to get your items from point a to point b. Transport boxes are a great option and will be able to keep your goods secured throughout their journey. There are many varieties of transport box to choose from, so you’ll be able to find one that fits your requirements.

Some countries have stricter social and environmental rules than others. This will have a big impact on what you can ship, and what sort of packaging can be used. If you’re in doubt, come and have a chat to us at ABC Crates. We’re experts in packing compliance and can help you find a solution that will keep your goods safe and sound. From transport boxes to pallets, we’ve seen it all successfully go around the world.

Finally understanding how returns will work for your business is essential. Your customer needs to be able to send back any products that don’t meet the specifications or may be faulty. This means you’ll need a secure address and systems set up to handle this.

At ABC Crates, we take every precaution to ensure your shipping containers to meet all standards of safety and security.