What it is
Road-transport packaging must reflect vehicle vibration, braking, cornering, load restraint, route quality and every loading or cross-docking event.
When it is relevant
Relevant for parcel vans, groupage, full truck loads, dedicated routes and the first or last leg of almost every multimodal chain.
Risks and problems addressed
Continuous vibration, pothole shocks, emergency braking, lateral movement, poor stacking and forklift impacts may combine during one trip.
Product characteristics that matter
Record mass, center of gravity, fragility, stack load, orientation, protrusions, restraint points and sensitivity to repeated vibration.
Logistics and environmental factors
Specify vehicle types, route distance and road quality, groupage or dedicated use, transfers, forklift handling, stacking and restraint responsibility.
Information a packaging supplier needs
Give the supplier the route pattern, shipment unit, vehicle and loading method, restraint interfaces, transfer count, frequency and damage criteria.
Common mistakes
Do not describe only kilometres, omit cross-docking, or assume the carrier can restrain a load without defined interfaces and instructions.
Relevant standards and regulations
ISTA procedures and ASTM Committee D10 publications are possible starting points for distribution testing. The suitable method and acceptance criteria must be selected for the real product-package-route system.
RFQ
What a useful specification contains
Give the supplier the route pattern, shipment unit, vehicle and loading method, restraint interfaces, transfer count, frequency and damage criteria.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether road-transport packaging requirements is relevant?
Relevant for parcel vans, groupage, full truck loads, dedicated routes and the first or last leg of almost every multimodal chain.
What should I give a packaging supplier?
Give the supplier the route pattern, shipment unit, vehicle and loading method, restraint interfaces, transfer count, frequency and damage criteria.
Does PackNavi choose a packaging technology here?
No. PackNavi captures conditions, required outcomes and open points. A suitable technology must be engineered and validated for the actual product and supply chain.
Sources and references
Primary and official sources are preferred. Always check the current source before acting.
- Committee D10 on PackagingASTM International
- Packaging test proceduresISTA