The importance of securing your cargo and how forklifts complement safe transport

In the transfer of goods and merchandise, there are many factors that can affect and translate into a loss, all goods being transported are subject to unforeseen events, thefts or accidents that can range from minimal damage to its complete disappearance. In any case, a loss represents economic losses, furious customers and may even endanger […]

In the transfer of goods and merchandise, there are many factors that can affect and translate into a loss, all goods being transported are subject to unforeseen events, thefts or accidents that can range from minimal damage to its complete disappearance. In any case, a loss represents economic losses, furious customers and may even endanger the integrity of the company.

8 out of 10 companies close during the first year of operation, because they do not have a protection that supports them to face a critical situation due to market and operating risks.

Another aspect of great importance that should not be forgotten is to ensure the merchandise or goods can be placed in stock safely. With our forklifts at Hunter Liftrucks you can complete this process without any trouble.

Cargo security

Cargo security is an issue that must invariably be considered in the fixed costs of the logistics operation. Speaking of security, there are many technological tools, mechanical or human that are useful at some point when it comes to tracking your goods, however, hardly any of them can offer the peace of mind that provides insurance for the load, the vehicle, the operator or damage to third parties. Depending on the conditions in which we contract the service, an insurance can cover all or part of the damages or losses.

A very important factor is precisely to hire the insurance in the correct way; the insurance companies adhere strictly to the policies, terms and conditions established in the policy. Offering honest information about what is going to be ensured is fundamental for the coverage to be adequate at the time of an accident, in other words the insurer will pay only for what was reported. Some users or cargo owners prefer to “save” time and money by playing with the “possibility” factor, in many cases the declared values ​​are not the real ones.

  • Experts recommend considering the following points to make the most of the benefits of a cargo insurance:
  • Evaluating risk areas.
  • Modifying routes, methods and delivery schedules.
  • Placing satellite trackers on tractor and trailer.
  • When required, making use of custodians.
  • Trained personnel (operators, coordinators and monitors) in security measures.
  • Placing padlocks or safety implements that delay the opening of the trailers.

The most important thing that an insurance offers is tranquillity. Remember that the investment in the purchase of a policy, can minimize the risk of valuable losses for your company.

Evaluating the threats faced by your cargo

What are the threats your cargo faces? Sunken ships. Natural disasters. Cargo deliberately thrown overboard to lighten a ship in danger. Piracy. Damaged load. Bad driving. Collision. Fire. Theft. Damaged containers

The question is not only if the operations of your business can handle the loss of the load.

Your company could be responsible for the entire ship if it sinks! Not only will you lose the cost of your merchandise if the cargo ship sinks, your company will also be responsible for the replacement of the million-dollar ship (even if you only sent a small cargo). Under maritime laws, this clause is known as the general average rule. This rule also covers the cargo thrown overboard, deliberately, with the intention of saving the ship as a whole, from the risks at sea, to avoid an imminent danger. Then, the ship will pass a bill proportionally, to all those whose cargo arrived safely to its destination to cover the loss of the entire shipment.

Is your merchandise really covered?

Scenario No. 1: Door to door coverage:

You have insurance, but to your great surprise, at the time you file a claim, you only have coverage from port to port / airport to airport, instead of having insurance that covers the cargo from the point of origin to the point of destination. It is important to know what coverage you have before making the shipment, to ensure that your cargo will be covered during the entire duration of the shipment.

Scenario No. 2: When they point to each other

Some cargo owners, even after confirming that different insurance cover the transfer of cargo in each mode of transport, still face responsibility when filing a claim. Many carriers will signal to others that the damage occurred in another type of transport and not in theirs. This can be solved by using an integral insurance that covers the load during the entire duration of the transfer.

Scenario No. 3: Foreign insurance

Surely your provider could have a coordinated insurance at the point of origin. Have you thought about how it would be to file a claim with that insurance when the time comes? If you are not aware of the best practices, language or regional requirements of your insurance, it is preferable to buy additional insurance locally.

SOLUTION: Due to the high risk of the nature of transport and logistics, it strongly recommendable to insure the cargo, covering each shipment from door to door. It is essential to protect your merchandise throughout the entire supply chain.

What happens once merchandise and goods have arrived?

Once your valuable items and goods have arrived to your premises you can easily count on our top equipment to help you handle them and place them in stock or store them in a safe way. Here at Hunter Liftrucks we take pride of having the most reliable equipment for your merchandise or goods.

When you choose Hunter Liftrucks you are selecting a business with over 35 years of experience, serving both local small businesses and large governmental organisation. We have managed to expand ourselves only because of our commitment to our customers’ success, we make a tedious process easier to complete.

Here in Hunter Lift trucks we offer you a wide range of different forklifts so you can choose the best option for your current needs. You can either buy a new forklift, a used one or hire the services of one. Contact us today!