Ensuring The Safety of High-Value Cargo: Best Practices
Ensuring the safety of any type of freight is critical to logistics and supply chain management. However, high-value cargo is more susceptible to potential risks associated with transporting cargo, and financial stakes are significantly higher than with general freight.
High-value cargo is any load that exceeds the minimum cargo coverage required by commercial carriers, which is generally around $100,000. These shipments include things like luxury goods, pharmaceuticals, artwork, high-tech equipment, and precious metals and stones. Although the definition of high-value cargo is relative to what the shipper may consider valuable.
The potential risks that high-value cargo face during transport is damage, loss, or theft. High-value cargo is especially susceptible to theft due to the high-priced items being transported.
If you have plans to ship high-value freight, here are the best practices to ensure the safe arrival of your items.
Documentation
Making sure that all the right documentation is completed and accurate can ensure safety of the cargo. The Bill of Lading (BOL) documents the details of the shipment including the type, quantity, and condition.
Providing a packing list that lists all of the items in the shipment can allow for a check upon delivery. Recorded evidence of what exactly is being shipped can detect any lost or stolen items from the shipment.
Packaging
Secure packaging is essential to protecting high-value cargo. To prevent damage from accidents, padding and sealed crates or boxes are used to ship the freight.
High-value freight is typically transported in tamper-evident and sealed compartments to not only prevent damage, but theft, too. Some shippers even put proof locks, motion sensors, and their own alarm systems on the cargo.
Depending on the type of high-value cargo, RFID tagging and IoT sensors are utilized to monitor the temperature and humidity levels of the freight, to ensure it remains in optimal condition.
Security
In order to protect the safety of high-value freight, there are security measures that can be implemented to combat the potential risks of transporting it. These can be done not only by the shipper, but by the carrier and drivers as well. Companies must comply with regulatory requirements that include security protocols.
Advanced technology like real-time GPS tracking systems can monitor the location of the cargo and provide alerts and updates to the shipper. At times, trucks that are transporting high-value cargo have onboard cameras and surveillance systems to monitor activity in or around the vehicle.
Constant communication between logistics coordinators and drivers during the transit helps to report any incidents that may occur. Parking in secure areas during stops also helps to mitigate any potential risks and to ensure security of the freight.
Insurance
Investing in insurance coverage is a step in ensuring the safety of the freight. If any of the freight is damaged, lost, or stolen, it will be covered depending on the insurance plan.
It’s important to properly value the freight to get adequate coverage for the cargo. Undervaluing the freight could lead to partial compensation if loss, damage, or theft occur.
Verifying Condition
After the freight is delivered, it’s imperative to verify the condition of the package. A smart step to take is to have photographic evidence of the freight pre-delivery and post-delivery. This way, any damage or discrepancies can be identified.
Visual inspection and verifying documents like delivery receipts can help to identify any damage or tampering of the shipment, too.
These practices are crucial to guaranteeing the safety and security of the high-value cargo being shipped. Collaboration between shippers and carriers to enhance the protection of the cargo being transported can ensure that the valued freight gets delivered in a smooth, safe and efficient manner.
If you’re planning on shipping your valuable cargo and want a stress-free and secure experience, contact our shipping experts at FreightCenter at (800) 716-7608 to get a quote today!
