Proper Cargo Placement: How Is It Done?

Proper Cargo Placement: How Is It Done?

10 Frequently Asked Questions About Cargo Placement

In logistics, we often think of transportation as the main focus. However, looking at the process more broadly can help reduce costs, increase profits, and unlock other benefits.

Do you pay attention to how your cargo is distributed?
How optimized is your cargo placement?
Who is responsible for cargo distribution?
How often are weight limits exceeded?
Is there a clear scheme for fast loading and unloading?
Are you satisfied with loading density?
How often does cargo get damaged during transportation?
How critical is it to reduce transportation costs?
How much time is spent on transportation management?
Is there a clear, coordinated system for cargo distribution?
These questions are addressed to freight forwarders, carriers, and distribution center managers. If you deal with cargo, let’s answer them together!

Do You Pay Attention to How Your Cargo Is Distributed?

In day-to-day operations, there’s often an illusion of order based on habitual approaches. What worked once is repeated, even though logistics demands meticulous consideration of every detail to achieve optimal results.

Any attempt to establish or improve a cargo space planning system tailored to business needs proves how undervalued this aspect is.

By leveraging IT technologies, you can expect:

• Simplicity
• Precision
• Speed
• Cost savings

Although changes often meet resistance, they eventually become integral to operations, leaving us wondering how we managed without them.

How Optimized Is Your Cargo Placement?

The logic is simple: "More space equals more profit." Inefficient cargo placement ultimately leads to financial losses.

To optimize cargo placement, you need to:

• Calculate cargo volume
• Select suitable transport
• Increase loading density
• Account for unloading sequence
• Avoid overload
• Develop a clear loading scheme

What has the COVID-19 era taught us? The future becomes the present sooner or later. IT solutions have become integral to daily life, and those who resisted this change faced the greatest challenges.

Trusting technology has proven beneficial because automation reduces errors and accelerates processes.

Who Is Responsible for Cargo Distribution?

Cargo distribution isn’t a core task for any one specialist. As a result, while its importance is recognized, accountability is often unclear, and only the act of loading is monitored.

Even the most experienced employee is still just one person. This creates dependency on individual qualifications and exposes the business to human error.

An IT solution provides correct distribution, management, and control through these stages:

1. The order is received, and data is entered into the system.
2. A specialist selects transport or cargo space.
3. The program calculates optimal cargo distribution based on specific parameters.
4. The system models results in 3D, PDF, or HTML format.

How Often Are Weight Limits Exceeded?

There are two common scenarios: overload or underload (deliberately reducing cargo volume). Both result in losses.

It’s essential to consider load distribution, cargo characteristics, and compliance with constantly evolving legal requirements. Without a system, this responsibility is often dispersed among employees, increasing the risk of mistakes.

Is There a Clear Scheme for Fast Loading and Unloading?

A proper scheme is essential to avoid chaos.
It should account for:

• Both loading and unloading sequences to save time
• Transport and cargo specifics to prevent damage
• Speed optimization
• Database storage for future use
• Simplicity and clarity for all operators

Without such a system, mistakes lead to delays and damage, causing frustration and financial loss.

Are You Satisfied With Loading Density?

Loading density impacts:

• Vehicle selection
• Transportation costs
• Speed of movement
• Storage space requirements

For example, a transport company may calculate costs without considering loading density, leading to inflated prices and missed opportunities. A larger truck might be dispatched with low-density cargo, resulting in wasted capacity and lost revenue for both the carrier and client.

How Often Does Cargo Get Damaged During Transportation?

Cargo damage often stems from the lack of a systematic approach to loading and unloading. Smart planning systems now eliminate guesswork by considering parameters like weight, fragility, stackability, and unloading order.

Ensuring cargo safety offers financial security and a competitive advantage.

How Critical Is It to Reduce Transportation Costs?

Optimized loading can reduce transportation costs by 10% or more. It also mitigates risks, such as fines for weight limit violations, saving money in the long run.

How Much Time Is Spent on Transportation Management?

Using CargoTetris, distribution centers can significantly reduce time and effort:

• Faster pallet assembly
• Improved box placement on pallets
• Increased pallet capacity (2-10 additional boxes per pallet)
• Reduced vehicle downtime during loading
• Shorter training periods for new staff

Adapting algorithms to specific tasks can save up to 10% annually on transportation costs while easing operational stress.

Is There a Clear, Coordinated System for Cargo Distribution?

Building an in-house system is time-consuming and expensive, so using existing solutions is more practical. We’ve developed and tested CargoTetris, an online cargo space calculator designed to optimize logistics costs.

CargoTetris Features:

• Smart Planning: Alerts if all cargo won’t fit into the space.
• 3D Visualization: Includes segmentation for loading and unloading sequences.
• Fast Calculations: Results in as little as 5 seconds.
• Step-by-Step Loading Plans: Add cargo spaces, input goods, and calculate.
• Advanced Algorithms: Combines genetic algorithms and decision trees for maximum efficiency.

Results:

• Transportation cost savings of 10% or more
• Damage-free deliveries
• Optimized space and time usage
• Elimination of human error

Use your cargo space to its full potential with CargoTetris. Try it now at cargotetris.com.