Packaging
For most items a corrugated box with plenty of strength will do: double- or triple-wall for heavy contents. Avoid old boxes with dents and other people's labels — they are weaker and confuse sorting.
Preparation
Preparing cargo: packing, marking and the packing list
On its way, cargo goes through loading, vibration, reloading at a warehouse and close contact with other people's boxes. Good preparation does not take special skills: you need suitable packaging, contents that cannot move, and pieces that are easy to identify and to place the right way up.
Pack as if the box will be dropped and put under other boxes — because that is usually what happens.
This page covers general ways to prepare cargo. Carriers may have their own packing requirements, and if you do not meet them, liability for damage may shift to the sender, so check the rules before you start packing.
What preparation involves
Six elements that together protect the cargo and help the carrier handle it correctly.
Crating
A wooden frame around the cargo protects it from impacts and pressure from above. Crates are used for glass, equipment, furniture with fragile parts and anything that cannot take a load. Many carriers require a crate for fragile cargo.
Pallet
A pallet lets a forklift lift several boxes at once instead of moving them by hand. Stack the boxes squarely without overhanging the edges, then secure them with stretch film or strapping so the whole stack becomes a single piece.
Void fill
Empty space inside a box is the main cause of breakage: items knock against each other and the walls. Fill it with bubble wrap, paper or foam so that nothing moves when you shake the box.
Marking
Every piece should show the recipient's address, its number out of the total, and warning marks such as Fragile, This Way Up and Keep Dry. Put them on several sides so they are visible however the box is stacked.
Packing list
A list of the contents with quantities and, where needed, values. It helps on delivery, with a claim for missing items and with international shipments. Keep a copy, and photograph the contents before sealing the box.
How to pack fragile cargo
Take apart what you can
Remove protruding parts, legs and glass panels, pack them separately and label what they belong to.
Wrap each item
Wrap every item in several layers of bubble wrap or paper, especially the corners and edges — they are the first to break.
Cushion the bottom
Put a thick layer of void fill on the bottom of the box so the contents do not touch the walls or base directly.
Fill the gaps
Place the items and fill every gap so that nothing shifts or rattles inside when you give the box a gentle shake.
Close and reinforce
Tape the seams in an H pattern with wide tape. For glass and equipment, consider a crate or a rigid outer box.
Mark and photograph
Put Fragile and This Way Up marks on several sides, add the piece number and take photos of the packed box before handing it over.
Read next
Sources
- ICAO — Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations
This information is based on the documents in force on the date of publication. International rules, carrier terms and customs requirements are updated regularly, so before you ship, check the current texts and the terms of whoever will be carrying your cargo.