“Packaging is a trillion-dollar industry that many people don’t understand how incredibly important it is to their daily lives,” says Cory Connors, Host of The Sustainable Packaging Podcast. In the world of freight shipping, understanding carrier declinations due to poor packaging and mitigating these declinations is crucial. This article aims to shed light on carrier declinations, particularly those resulting from poor packaging, and provide strategies to prevent and manage such situations.

Understanding Carrier Declinations

Carrier declinations are rejections of freight claims, which are formal demands by consignees or shippers to a carrier for financial reimbursement due to loss, damage, shortage, or concealed damage or shortage of shipments during transit. The reasons for these declinations can be myriad, but one of the most common culprits is poor packaging.

Why Packaging Matters in Freight Shipping

Packaging in freight shipping goes beyond mere containment of goods. It plays a crucial role in protecting items during transit, ensuring their arrival at the destination. Insufficient packaging can lead to damage, loss, or other issues that might result in a carrier declination.

Exploring Carrier Declinations Due to Poor Packaging

Poor packaging can lead to various problems during shipping, from minor damages to total loss of goods. For instance, using non-compliant pallets or failing to secure cargo properly can result in damage during handling or transit, leading carriers to enforce the inadvertence clause in their Rules Tariff. Although they usually won’t, the carrier’s right to refuse shipments due to improper or insufficient packaging at pickup highlights the importance of proper packaging practices. These real-world examples underscore the need for diligent attention to packaging and highlight the potential consequences of neglecting this crucial aspect of freight transportation.

How to Prevent Carrier Declinations for Poor Packaging

Learning to package your freight correctly by following these essential steps or implementing best practices from industry experts like FedEx, DHL, and UPS will help prevent carrier declinations and safeguard high-value or fragile items. 

1. Use new and rigid boxes to ensure packaging strength and integrity. Avoid reusing old or damaged boxes.
2. Provide adequate cushioning with air-encapsulated plastic, inflatable packaging, engineered foam closures, or corrugated liners to protect items during transit.
3. Secure packaging using strong shipping tape and avoid using string or paper over-wrap. Wrap each item separately and remove previous shipment markings on the box.
4. Affix clear and complete shipping labels with delivery and return information. Include duplicate address labels inside the box for additional identification.
5. Consider palletization for larger or heavier shipments to increase stability and prevent pieces from getting lost during shipping.
6. Secure freight on pallets by stacking boxes securely and using strapping or banding to prevent movement and separation of items during transit
7. Provide additional protection for irregularly shaped items using corner/edge boards, strapping, or stretch wrapping.
8. Ensure compliance with hazardous materials regulations for shipping dangerous items.
9. Consider the climate and environmental conditions during shipping to preserve the integrity of the goods.

By implementing best practices for packaging and leveraging freight claims management software from FreightClaims.com, businesses can prevent these declinations and effectively manage any claims that arise.

Dealing with a Declination Due to Poor Packaging

Receiving a declination due to poor packaging can be frustrating, but it’s not the end of the road. Steps to take after such a declination include:

1. Documenting evidence.
2. Reporting issues promptly.
3. Maintaining communication with the shipper.
4. Ensuring the problem doesn’t persist.

In some cases, contesting the declination may be appropriate if you can demonstrate reasonable efforts to mitigate damage or loss.

How FreightClaims.com Can Help

FreightClaims.com offers a comprehensive cloud-based platform that simplifies and streamlines freight claims management from start to finish. 

1. Intuitive Tracking: Keep track of all your claims at every stage of the process, empowering you to make well-informed business decisions based on real-time updates.
2. Claims History: Get a quick overview of your past claims with carriers and insurance providers, allowing you to focus on claims that need immediate attention without wasting valuable time.
3. Efficient Claim Management: Submit and track claims efficiently, organize documents and notes, view claim data at a glance, and analyze trends in your claims history.
4. Built-in Task Management: Utilize task management tools and quick emailing capabilities for seamless communication and efficient claims resolution.

Our cloud-based platform allows users to submit and track claims, organize documents and notes, view claim data at a glance, and analyze trends.

Take Control of Your Shipments: Safeguarding Against Carrier Declinations

Understanding carrier declinations and the role of packaging in freight shipping is essential for any business involved in the freight industry. By implementing proper packaging techniques and leveraging technology like FreightClaims.com, companies can minimize the risk of declinations and manage any claims that arise effectively.

Don’t let poor packaging lead to declined claims. Request a demo today at FreightClaims.com to see how we can streamline your freight claims management process.