The ghosts may be out this week for Halloween, but the last thing you want is a surprise in your trailer. Dry van trailers are the most important box in shipping, and knowing how to use them properly improves safety and efficiency. Even slight missteps can lead to damage, delays, or even worse.

Here are some of the things we’ve seen shippers do and guidance on how to remedy them.

Shipping air: If you’re underutilizing your trailers, you’re paying to ship air, which is bad for business. You're not getting the most bang for your buck on a load and may need extra trips, further increasing labor and fuel costs. Packing a trailer is both an art and a science, especially with floor loading—the process of loading goods or cargo directly onto the floor. You need to think like a Tetris player, stacking shapes together while eliminating empty space.

“If you don’t use the entire space within a trailer—think wall-to-wall if you’re floor loading—you aren’t optimizing the space and run the risk of products shifting,” says Danielle Davies, a Supply Chain Manager at Amazon.

Loading guides should give specific instructions. Plus, you can prep the load using load planning software or visualization tools. Remember to maximize the cubic capacity by taking advantage of vertical space and stack items, provided they're stable and secure.

Improperly distributing weight: Weight distribution within the trailer is crucial for maintaining balance and control during transit. Uneven distribution can cause swaying, tipping, or difficulty steering, especially when making turns or braking.

A common mistake is placing too much weight at the rear, which can cause axle overload or lead to unsafe driving conditions. “Loading guides will often direct you on what to put in the nose or in the center of the trailer,” Davies says.

A best practice to follow is to distribute the weight evenly from front to back and side to side and place heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top to lower the center of gravity. Be sure that no section of the trailer is excessively loaded, particularly over the rear axle.

Not securing cargo: Unsecured cargo is a significant safety hazard for people as well as the freight. It can shift during transit, leading to damage or accidents. Even a small object can do severe damage when falling from above.

“A box that weighs five pounds and hits someone corner-wise in the forehead creates a significant risk," Davies says.

Use restraints, such as straps, load bars, airbags, or dunnage, to prevent packages and products from shifting. Another tip is to secure each load section separately to avoid creating a domino effect if one section moves. Also, inspect the straps and tie-downs periodically for damage to ensure they're working correctly.

Misusing stretch wrap: Strech-wrapping pallets is a great way to secure products, and stretch-wrap is easy to use. Unfortunately, it is also easy to misuse. If stretch wrap doesn’t go all the way around the pallet itself and back up, the products it is holding can slide right off during transit.

“Make sure the entire pallet is wrapped and not just once or twice around but with nice, secure wraps,” Davies said.

Cross the wrap over the top to secure it from above, then get down low and loop it under the pallet so it's snuggly attached. If pallets are being wrapped by hand, this might mean someone has to get on their hands and knees to connect it. If employees are using machines, the machine might need to be adjusted to ensure it is reaching all the way down to the pallet.

Failing to inspect the trailer before loading: Any issues with a trailer, even if it is just empty pallets or boxes that were left inside after a delivery, can create delays. More serious problems, such as broken floorboards or sharp edges, could compromise the safety and integrity of the goods during transit, so do a quick inspection before the loading process gets underway.

Conduct a thorough inspection of the trailer before loading to check for structural damage, water leaks, or debris. Flag any issues that could damage cargo.

Giving receivers a surprise: Surprises at the right time can be fun but usually not in shipping. When those on the receiving end of a load open the doors, they want to know exactly what’s inside and won’t appreciate something unexpected. It’s important to ensure everything on the trailer is accounted for before it starts its journey.

A clear, well-placed label is an essential companion to a purchase order (PO), and it lets receiving dock workers know what’s in a box or on a pallet. It also ensures forklift drivers are using the proper forklift to move products.

Make sure labels are clearly visible. Place labels outside the stretch wrap, and ensure they are not over a seam or near the corners of a carton as they may become illegible while in transit.

Opt for treats, not tricks
These best practices can save time, reduce costs, and improve safety for drivers, dockworkers, and cargo. If you’d like to see how Amazon Freight can help you optimize your shipping, create an account and start getting quotes immediately.