| 1 |
Confirm the delivery term
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Select the appropriate Incoterms® 2020 rule and clearly identify the named place, transfer point, insurance responsibility, customs responsibility, and final delivery scope.
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Ensure the commercial invoice, packing list, booking instruction, and transport order use the same delivery term and named location.
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Confirm who arranges factory pickup, export clearance, port delivery, import clearance, and final-mile transportation.
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Incoterms® 2020 contains 11 rules; the named place should be written precisely.
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| 2 |
Choose the right container
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Compare the shipment's cubic volume, gross weight, cargo dimensions, and loading restrictions before selecting a container type.
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A standard dry container is suitable for many general cargo shipments; oversized, temperature-sensitive, or unusually heavy cargo may require a different equipment type.
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Check whether the factory gate, loading yard, and delivery site can accommodate the selected container and truck combination.
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Approximate internal volume: 20-foot dry container: 33 m³; 40-foot dry container: 67 m³. Actual usable capacity varies.
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| 3 |
Optimize carton dimensions
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Standardize outer-carton dimensions where possible and calculate both carton count and total cubic volume before production is completed.
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Keep cartons square and stable, avoid excessive empty space, and protect fragile corners with suitable inserts or edge guards.
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Verify that the packed cartons can pass through doors, warehouse aisles, elevators, and vehicle access points at the destination.
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Use the formula length × width × height for each carton, then add all carton volumes to estimate total CBM.
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| 4 |
Use pallets appropriately
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Decide whether palletization improves handling, protection, and unloading speed without creating excessive unused space.
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Confirm pallet material, dimensions, load-bearing capacity, carton overhang limits, and whether the destination requires heat-treated wood packaging.
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Confirm whether the receiving warehouse uses forklifts, pallet jacks, dock-level access, or manual unloading.
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Common pallet footprints include approximately 1,200 × 1,000 mm and 1,200 × 800 mm; suitability depends on the destination and cargo.
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| 5 |
Control cargo weight distribution
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Calculate gross weight by carton, pallet, and container, and distribute heavy items evenly across the container floor.
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Place heavier cartons at the bottom, use blocking or bracing where needed, and prevent concentrated loads or unstable stacking.
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Verify truck, road, bridge, and local legal weight restrictions before the container leaves the factory.
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Cargo weight must remain within the container's rating and the applicable road regulations; limits vary by equipment and jurisdiction.
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| 6 |
Prepare for moisture and shock
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Match the protective packaging to the product's sensitivity to humidity, condensation, vibration, compression, and impact.
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Use moisture barriers, desiccants, cushioning, corner protection, and stretch wrapping when supported by a documented packaging assessment.
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Consider seasonal weather, long waiting periods, repeated handling, and temperature changes during domestic movement and port operations.
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Desiccant quantity should be calculated from cargo volume, packaging permeability, transit conditions, and expected exposure time.
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| 7 |
Secure the container load
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Prepare a loading plan showing carton or pallet positions, weight distribution, access requirements, and unloading sequence.
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Fill voids, use dunnage or lashing where necessary, keep doors clear, and prevent cargo from shifting during braking or turning.
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Photograph the empty container, cargo arrangement, blocking and bracing, container number, and seal after loading.
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The final loading record should include container number, seal number, gross weight, and loading date.
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| 8 |
Verify shipping documentation
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Cross-check the commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, export declaration data, product description, and quantities.
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Make sure marks, carton numbers, net weight, gross weight, dimensions, and pallet counts match the physical shipment.
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Confirm that the pickup address, contact person, loading hours, cargo readiness date, and delivery instructions are consistent.
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A packing list should normally identify package marks, package count, contents, net weight, gross weight, and dimensions.
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| 9 |
Check wood-packaging compliance
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Identify whether pallets, crates, skids, or blocking are made from solid wood and check the destination country's import requirements.
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Use compliant treated and marked wood packaging where required; processed wood products may be treated differently under local rules.
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Inspect marks before pickup and keep treatment or supplier records available for customs or inspection inquiries.
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ISPM 15 generally applies to many solid-wood packaging materials used in international trade; country-specific exceptions and requirements may apply.
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| 10 |
Plan inland transport and buffer time
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Reserve pickup capacity according to cargo readiness, warehouse hours, port cut-off, customs status, and the selected transport route.
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Keep cargo ready before the truck arrives, use clear loading instructions, and avoid last-minute repacking that can change weight or dimensions.
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Confirm route restrictions, truck appointment requirements, tolls, holiday congestion, weather risks, and the final receiver's unloading capacity.
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Add a practical time buffer for factory loading, traffic, inspections, port queues, and weather; the required buffer varies by route and season.
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