Crating: Shipping Fragile Freight

Crating your freight can create an easier and more cost-effective shipping experience.

The most important thing to remember when crating is that all freight must be safely contained within the crate or container. You will also want to conform to any size restrictions with respect to your freight. These size restrictions may vary depending on your freight and the mode of transport. These can be easily researched online, and based on these restrictions you can determine the correct dimensions of your crate for shipment. Below is a picture of a crate’s framework.

Fragile freight should be packed with extra care to avoid damage during shipping. While crating does protect your items, you can take extra steps to ensure your freight arrives free of damages. If the cargo you are shipping is fragile, such as glass or electronics, you should wrap the materials individually to avoid any damage that can occur during transport. Fragile items can become damaged if it is not protected during the crating process.

Whenever possible, separate fragile items from non-fragile items to minimize any damage that could occur in transport. Movement can occur within the cargo crate during shipment, so separating your items can be beneficial to you in the long run. Another way to minimize damage within the crate is to pack your crate as full as possible. Items that are packed tight are less likely to shift during shipment as this alleviates and extra room for movement.

Anything you can do during crating to keep your freight together is going to make crating and shipping easier. Keep in mind that odd shaped items that take up more space can make crating loading and shipping more complicated. Here is an example of crating a motorcycle:

Wood crates are the easiest and safest way to transport any item during shipping. Wood crates can be made to any size and can be packed fully while holding almost any weight.

Objects that are more solid will most likely experience less damage. All items should be wrapped and packed separate from one another. Bubble wrap, paper, cloth, and packing peanuts should be used as well. Again, pack your items as firmly as possible in the crate.

Crate shipping follows the basic rules of palletizing. Heavier items should be placed at the bottom of your crate. Lighter items should be at the top of your crate where they’ll be safe from damage by larger items.

If your items do not fill your crate to capacity, fill any empty spaces with packing material. This will help prevent movement during transport. If you are shipping an item that can be disassembled, then it might be helpful to disassemble all items prior to shipping.

Here is a picture of a finished crate: