Damage to palletized loads in road transport

Abstract

Manufacturers and operators of the logistics market are constantly looking for ways (opportunities) to reduce the costs of their operations. This also applies to all types of packaging. A conflict arises here between manufacturers and carriers. Producers will try to reduce the costs of collective packaging as much as possible (this packaging does not affect customers’ purchasing decisions), while for transport operations, this packaging will determine the safety and quality of transported cargo. Preparing the load for transport - properly selected packaging (its shape, resistance to pressure, etc.), and above all, the proper way of forming and securing PSU (pallet load units) is a very important issue for the manufacturer/sender (as the first link in the distribution chain). It has a huge impact on the formation of cargo damage during its transport. As part of the research conducted by the authors in the area of optimization of cargo securing costs and minimization of cargo damage, the lack of a systemic approach to the problem of cargo damage in road transport was observed. The article discusses the causes of damage to palletized loads during road transport and illustrates some of these damages. Identification of the causes of damage made it possible to classify damage to palletized loads, and in the future, it will allow the development of ways to limit them, the so-called good practices for securing palletized loads.