Truck drivers are responsible for making sure your goods are not broken or damaged during transport. John Fayard Moving and Warehousing secures cargo with ratchet straps and carefully stacked boxes to prevent toppling and follows weight distribution regulations to safeguard your shipment. Here are some ways trucking companies keep goods protected during transport:
Proper Packing
The method of loading and packing a cargo truck affects whether goods shift, slide, or topple during transport. To prevent movement and risk of breakage, trucking companies use these packing techniques:
- Blocking: Blocking prevents cargo from moving side-to-side, especially as trucks make long, wide turns. To reduce movement, cargo that slides easily is secured with wedges, wood bracing, chocks, and trailer walls.
- Cargo Bars: Cargo bars are attached to the walls of an enclosed trailer, providing an attachment point for ropes, netting, or other restraints.
- Boxing: When cargo includes loose items, collisions with other objects in the shipment may cause damage. To limit movement, we secure these items in crates, boxes, or pallets. Boxes are also easier to stack and secure than smaller or oddly shaped objects.
- Dunnage Bags: These air-filled sacks fill gaps between items, preventing objects from shifting or rubbing together.
- Full Truckload: The right-sized shipping container reduces gaps between cargo or your goods and the door. Fewer gaps limit movement during transit. We can help you pick a trailer suited to your shipment size.
Secured Loads
Goods transported on open trailers must be secured with quality tie-down methods. Ratchet or lashing straps apply tension to your cargo, keeping it secured to the trailer’s surface. Wheeled equipment must also be chained so it does not roll out from under the straps. Truck netting can also provide an extra layer of protection. Nets conform to the shape of the cargo, helping to keep loose items, like furniture or office supplies, weighted and secure. These precautions prevent objects from spilling onto the road and becoming lost, damaged, or a safety hazard.
Regulation Compliance
Shipping companies must abide by government safety standards to safeguard the driver and goods in transit. Weight limit laws determine how much cargo a truck can carry according to where it is traveling and the type of vehicle. When cargo exceeds a truck’s maximum weight limit, the stopping distance is greater, and steering can become imbalanced. Staying below the weight limit protects goods and drivers as road conditions change due to inclement weather.
Drivers must comply with safety regulations that determine training standards and driving limits. Our drivers have commercial licensure and are trained in over-the-road safety management systems. They must also log their driving hours and not exceed the maximum on-duty hours set by federal regulations. Experienced drivers reduce shipping delays and avoid sleep-related accidents that pose safety risks.
Shipment Security
Choosing a trucking company with shipment security features helps safeguard your goods from pickup to delivery. Automated alerts enable us to track a truck’s movement in real time. This allows us to identify changes from the planned route or unexpected stops, and we can take immediate action to determine the cause of the delay or address a security breach. We also offer shipping services like expedited and guaranteed delivery, depending on how quickly you need a truckload shipment to arrive.
Work With Trucking Companies Today
When transporting your goods, John Fayard Moving and Warehousing makes sure each shipment is safe and secure to reduce damage risk and safety hazards. Our trucks are well-maintained and road-ready to avoid delays so your cargo arrives intact and on time. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you transport your freight.