Businesses that rely heavily on shipping must steer clear of shipping mistakes as much as possible. Just a minor slip-up can cost a company a lot of money, cause it to lose customers, and lead to unnecessary problems. There are many common shipping mistakes, and since most of these are irreversible, it is best to double-check whether they have been avoided before the load has been sent to the customer’s address.

Not using pallets
A pallet is the best tool businesses can use when shipping goods to different places around town. It is a flat wooden piece that stores multiple shipping packages. So, when it is time to move the packages, one only has to move the pallet. This significantly reduces the risk of anything getting damaged during the trip. It is also simpler to move a pallet than using a forklift or a pallet jack to move individual packages. Moreover, palletizing the goods prevents them from colliding with each other and getting damaged.

Giving an incorrect address
Dealing with numerous packages is difficult, especially during crunch time. In such moments, one may make the simple mistake of listing an incorrect address on a box, which can cost the business significantly. If the product goes to the incorrect address, the customer who was meant to receive it will get it much later, causing the business to lose that contact. Plus, re-shipping that package to the correct address will cost the company a lot of money. To prevent this, it is best to double-check the addresses on the boxes before sending them for shipping.

Labeling products incorrectly
Incorrect labeling is another mistake that could stop the packages from being shipped to the right address and cost the company a lot of money. Further, if the package contains fragile items but its label does not say so, they could get damaged because of poor handling. These simple errors could be avoided by double-checking the goods before packing and sticking the right labels.

Relying on just one carrier
Businesses often make the mistake of depending on just one freight carrier for all their shipments. They think they do not need a new partner because the current one will always be available. But that may not always be the case. If the carrier gets pre-booked somewhere else, the business could fall behind on its shipping deadlines. And it is not easy to get another carrier on an immediate basis. Moreover, if the current carrier faces an unfortunate issue like an accident, the business would be left without a shipping partner. So, it is best to have a backup.

Not having freight insurance
Every business that relies on shipping should have freight insurance. The business may face massive financial loss if its packages get damaged or lost during shipping and it does not have a policy. Freight insurance is especially necessary if the packages are shipped over long distances. The further the address, the higher the chances of the packages being damaged along the way.