Monitor the shipments for disproportionate impacts that cause damage 

Monitor the shipments for disproportionate impacts that cause damage to your container and determine who had custody of the goods  

Damage to goods shipped in containers is a common problem when delivering by truck, rail, ocean, or air. Anyone who handles the goods on behalf of others is also responsible for the goods not being damaged or lost. Despite this, there are countless damages to goods sent in containers every year. 

The responsibility for shipment of containers is regulated by laws, conventions, and general provision and insured in a carrier liability insurance. Despite this, if damage occurs, it can be challenging to prove and report in a timely manner. Therefore, it becomes increasingly important to work proactively to prevent damages and to use clear and well-documented procedures when damage occurs. With an Impact & Shock Recorder system, you can streamline the time for detecting concealed damages on arrival and report within the required time frame. 

Common causes of transport issues 

A considerable proportion of the cargo claims are divided between physical damage 28%, temperature-related 14%, containers lost overboard 11%, theft 9%, humidity 9%, and shortage 8%. The insurance companies have good statistics on different problems causing damage to the goods during transport, but it does not prevent the issues. Packing a container correctly is very important not only for your cargo but also impacts other containers and carriers. If the container is wrongly balanced, heavy, not secured correctly, shared with other suppliers, or packed incorrectly, it can be a reason why your product has suffered damage during transport. 

The surrounding environment will also influence the quality of your product. An example of this can be the export packing used does not meet the demands from the real stresses the cargo exposes during the transport. Even in those cases where it is a specification on the maximum level of humidity, and a special packing used, the reality might be different and demands an even better solution than expected. 

What happened, and who is responsible if a concealed damage occurs? 

Even if you have taken every action, unforeseen events may still occur along the way. Concealed damage claims are one of the most challenging and frustrating types of freight claims because it is so difficult to prove who was responsible for the damages. On April 18, 2015, the NMFC (The National Motor Freight Classification®) had amended the rules regarding the required time frames shippers are allowed to report concealed damage to the carrier from 15 days to 5 days. Unless it’s stated in a specific carrier rules tariff, this applies to all LTL shipments. 

Parties that may physically handle your cargo 

• The manufacturer/supplier 

• The local trucker 

• The local company moving from the warehouse to the terminal 

• The origin terminal 

• The transshipment terminal 

• The arrival port terminal 

• The customs 

• The local trucker at the arrival port 

Protecting yourself from the risks of cargo damage 

The surrounding environment and conditions might be very different from the expected situations, several unknown factors in the transportation chain vary a lot. By using a Condition Monitoring System, like Cargolog Impact & Shock Recorder, you can monitor the transport chain and learn more about what your product has been exposed to when it has arrived at the final destination. It will help your quality department, product design team, packing, and handling department, and, in the end, your customers. 

Benefits of collecting independent data 

By collecting independent data from your transport with a Cargolog Impact & Shock recorder that is calibrated according to international standards, you gain the possibility to report concealed damage. The sensors are built inside the logger and can measure different parameters like shock, angle, light, temperature, humidity, pressure, vibrations, and more. With a few easy clicks, you can generate a report with all critical parameters and send it together with your claim to the carrier or insurance company. Using a calibrated conditional monitoring system with international references will help you to reduce the time for reporting and controlling your cargo and ensures the reliability of the independent data.