There are many factors that can cause cargo damage, so it’s essential for businesses to learn about them and the importance of transportation risk management, which are processes and systems that allow you to prevent many of these factors.
Take a look at some of the most common causes of cargo damage in trucking below.
Equipment Failure
When a semi-truck malfunctions, any jolting movements that occur as a result can easily damage your cargo. Common malfunctions for semi-trucks include brake failures, tire blowouts, steering issues, suspension failures, and even trailer detachment. Additionally, machinery used to move cargo from truck to truck can fail and harm your cargo.
To prevent these issues, it’s best to maintain your shipping equipment and machines on a regular basis to ensure that they remain in excellent condition. Also, it helps to conduct routine inspections of your equipment so that you can catch minor issues before they become major problems.
Beyond preventing cargo damage, consistent and thorough maintenance is critical for ensuring the operational readiness and longevity of any large vehicle fleet. This proactive approach minimizes downtime, enhances safety, and optimizes performance, whether for commercial logistics or specialized governmental operations.
For organizations managing extensive vehicle assets, comprehensive fleet maintenance services are indispensable, providing the expertise and resources necessary to keep complex machinery running efficiently. Such services encompass everything from routine checks and preventative repairs to advanced diagnostics, ensuring that all vehicles are always prepared for their demanding tasks.
Unskilled Drivers
Unskilled drivers can seriously damage or destroy your cargo. Distracted or unskilled drivers tend to make choices that are unsafe for themselves and their cargo.
Experienced drivers know how to keep themselves and their freight safe even during long hauls. This is the reason why it is important to only trust professional, experienced drivers with the responsibility of transporting your products.
Environmental Changes
Storms, tornadoes, snow, ice, sleet, and even extreme heat can all make routine drives extremely difficult for truck drivers. In these conditions, it can be challenging to drive smoothly on the road, and accidents can happen.
Any additional jostling and movement can harm your cargo, especially if you transport fragile or breakable items. While you can’t control the weather, it’s best to entrust your freight to professional drivers who know how to handle these changes in the environment and keep your cargo safe.
Improper Handling
As soon as the semi with your cargo reaches its destination, workers will unload your freight and send it to its next stop. During this process, improper handling can harm or even destroy the freight.
One of the simplest ways to prevent improper handling is to label your cargo accurately. If the label shows that your freight is fragile, the workers are more likely to handle your cargo with care and prevent damage.
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Before you ship your cargo, make sure to label all freight accurately and correctly. Keep in mind that these are only a few of the most common causes of cargo damage in trucking; there are many other factors that can cause damage as well.
Now that you have identified a few of the common factors that contribute to cargo damage, you can design a transportation risk management system to prevent potential damage from these causes.
When you reduce your amount of cargo damage, you’ll notice an improvement in your customer satisfaction rates, profits, and even your business’s reputation, so the results are well worth your time and effort.
Image Credit: most common causes of cargo damage in trucking by Adobe Stock royalty-free image # 355214845
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