Packing for Freight: Reducing Damage Claims Before the Truck Ever Loads

It's tempting to assume that freight damage happens because of rough handling somewhere in transit, and sometimes it does. But the majority of damage claims reviewed across a typical freight network trace back to a packaging decision made before the shipment ever left the shipper's dock — the wrong pallet configuration, insufficient void fill, or packaging rated for parcel handling being used for freight, which experiences different forces entirely.

Palletizing correctly is the highest-leverage habit. Overhang beyond the pallet edge, uneven weight distribution, or stacking that isn't interlocked all create instability that a forklift or a hard brake can turn into a collapsed load. A well-built pallet keeps weight centered, doesn't exceed the pallet's rated capacity, and uses stretch wrap or strapping rated for the load weight, not just enough to hold the boxes together for the photo.

Void fill matters more in freight than in parcel shipping, where a package might absorb some shock inside a larger carrier network sorting system. In freight, cartons often shift against each other inside a trailer over a multi-hour highway transit, and empty space inside a carton is exactly where that shifting causes crushing or impact damage. Filling that space isn't optional padding — it's the primary defense against in-transit movement.

Finally, mark cartons that need specific handling clearly and on multiple sides, not just the top. A 'this side up' or 'fragile' marking that's only visible from one angle in a mixed-freight trailer may never be seen by the person handling it. Combined with accurate documentation on the waybill, clear physical marking is what actually changes how a shipment gets handled at every touchpoint between pickup and delivery — not a general assumption that carriers will be careful with everything by default.