Learn More About Different Transportation Systems

1. Learn More About Different Transportation Systems

2. Synopsis • Learning about Trucking Shipping Containers • 5 Tips for Shipping Freight in Canada • Canadian Ports Make Ocean Freight a Convenient Choice for Import-Export Businesses • Keeping Air Shipping in Canada Hassle-Free • Lowering the Cost of Intermodal Transportation in Canada • Save on Shipping Costs for Business or Personal Needs when Sending Packages from Canada

3. Learning about Trucking Shipping Containers • How Shipping Containers are Made • Each shipping container is made using a giant roll of steel that is then cut up into several sheets of metal. Those cut up pieces are then sandblasted, primed, and corrugated to add strength. Roof panels, door handles and the floor are made separately. Then wall panel and square tubing are welded to the top. Afterwards, two hinged doors are framed to the hinges to fit tightly and the wall panels are separately welded together. The last step is that the room panel and door frame are installed. • The Average Trucking Shipping Container and Intermodal Terminals • Intermodal containers are often used to ship large amounts of freight across the ocean, more so than on land by truck. This type of container is best used for a shipment that is going large distances. Once a container reaches land, a company will have something called a intermodal terminal where the freight is generally delivered. Intermodal terminals are open 24/7. Standard containers are generally anywhere from 20-40 feel high depending on the product, and some containers are heated while others are cooled. The containers that were mentioned before are the standard containers.

4. Learning about Trucking Shipping Containers • Intermodal Containers Used in Truck Shipping • Intermodal containers are used as truck shipping containers once they are moved from a different mode of transportation. The container is moved from the ship to the truck and then driven to the location where the product is due for pickup. Moving intermodal containers for more than 300 miles work best when moved by truck. • Types of Trucking Shipping Containers and their Uses • There are different types of containers which can be useful in assisting intermodal transportation. There are car carrier containers which are used to carry stacks of a product. Half-height containers which are half the height of average containers are used to carry small amounts of inventory. This allows for simple loading and unloading. There are special purpose containers which, as the name implies, is put to use for a special purpose determined by the company. Circular shipping containers are made with plastic, metal and many other substances and are used to move liquid products.

5. 5 Tips for Shipping Freight in Canada • Make sure your freight is securely packed. • Regardless of which freight company you choose, a sloppy packing job exposes your shipment to all kinds of damage. Remember that your parcel will be transported either by ground or air, and that during that process shifting and shaking is inevitable. Newspaper, bubble wrap, and foam are all good investments when packaging an item for shipping via a freight company. • Choose the shipping company that’s right for you. • Shipping and freight companies offer different services, and often charge different rates for those services. Some companies specialize in getting your freight to its destination as soon as possible, while others specialize in hazardous materials, or oversized freight. • Use online tools to track your freight’s progress. • Most shipping and freight companies offer detailed tracking information to help you monitor your shipment’s progress from point A to point B. In most cases, the freight company’s website will provide you with tracking tools, but some of the larger companies also have mobile apps that allow you to check up on your freight from anywhere.

6. 5 Tips for Shipping Freight in Canada • Consider shipping or freight Insurance. • Regardless of how well you pack your freight, accidents do happen. Nearly all shipping and freight companies have policies that protect their customers from lost shipments or damage, but those policies usually only come into play if the shipping company has erred in some way. If your shipment is damaged due to poor packaging or lost due to improper addressing, you may be liable. If this is a concern for you, it may be worth it to protect your freight with shipping insurance. Be sure to check with your freight or shipping company to find out what kind of insurance policies they may offer. • Take advantage of convenient pick-up/drop-off options. • Some freight companies make this easier than others, but nearly all of them have a few different options for getting your freight to them or picking up your freight from them. In some cases, the company may have stand-alone drop-off points in high-traffic areas. Sometimes, however, you may have to go a little bit out of your way to get your parcel to the shipping company. Make sure to find out which company offers the right solutions to meet your needs.

7. Canadian Ports Make Ocean Freight a Convenient Choice for Import-Export Businesses • Convenience • Ocean freight uses existing shipping lines to import and export goods. Large container ships are constantly circling the globe, transporting goods from continent to continent across vast oceans. While ocean freight may not be the fastest method to get your goods from point A to point B, the convenience of ocean freight can be found in the services offered by Canada’s many shipping companies. • Cost • To ship products by ocean freight, goods are first packed into large shipping containers. This makes ocean freight one of the most cost-efficient ways to move goods around the world. A container is a large 20- or 40-foot rectangular metal box designed to be filled at the port of origin, then loaded onto a container ship and sent across the ocean. At the destination port, the container is offloaded and then either claimed by the buyer or loaded onto a truck for delivery. • Capability • Ocean freight offers a range of options that are not available using other freight methods. For example, there are no restrictions on the size or type of products shipped by ocean freight, which is not true of other methods.

8. Keeping Air Shipping in Canada Hassle-Free • Shipper responsibility when dealing with live cargo: • The shipper complies with the rules and regulations governing all live cargo • The animal must be in good health • The container or kennel the animal is being shipped in conforms with IATA regulations: http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/live-animals/pets/Pages/index.aspx • Arrival volume and weight match with the acceptance claimed when the cargo was accepted • Air shipping satisfaction is the key aim for service providers. • Air shipping requirements are CIFFA (Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association) certified, to ensure that all shipping rules are followed. There are multiple shipping service providers available to choose from. Some have won awards for Outstanding Contribution Excellence in Innovation and Air Excellence Awards, both ways to recognize top quality shipping companies.

9. Keeping Air Shipping in Canada Hassle-Free • Advancements in technology make a difference. • Shipping quality includes innovation in applications and technology which provide higher satisfaction in quality of service. Improvements are being sought out every day, and both customer and service providers reap the benefits of the constant search for perfection. Industry standards are met with ease as technology improves in quality. • Air shipping is changing every day. • When it comes to air shipping in Canada, be prepared to receive the very best in quality and options. It’s time to be astounded! Go online now to find the perfect solution to all shipping needs.

10. Lowering the Cost of Intermodal Transportation in Canada • Planning • Planning how a product is going to be shipped is a simple way to keep from piling up unnecessary costs. Most companies will make it easier on service providers by simply making sure the logistics company gives proof of delivery. • Communication • The company that is shipping the product and the company that receives the product must be in constant communication, because as the saying goes, time is money. If the product doesn’t get shipped off on time or doesn’t make it to its prioritized destination, money can be lost. If the product isn’t moved for a period of time money can be lost.

11. Lowering the Cost of Intermodal Transportation in Canada • Equipment Cost • Companies have the choice of moving product by plane, by train or by truck. When extra equipment like cranes are needed to move product from one mode of transportation to another the infrastructure cost can go up. To combat this, using only two forms of transportation at best or just the cheapest mode of transportation goes a long way. • Doing the Product Shuffle • Moving one product to more than one mode of transportation can risk the product being damage which can increase overhead cost. Decide early on the route through which the product is going be sent and what form of transportation will be used in order to eliminate damaged goods. • Load Tracking • Keep a close eye on the company’s product. An organization should always be aware of where a product is going and when at all times. The company that receives the product should let you know the moment the product is received.

12. Save on Shipping Costs for Business or Personal Needs when Sending Packages from Canada • Smaller packages equal smaller charges: • Use less packaging filler (packing peanuts, for an example) – smaller packaging lowers the weight of the package • The smaller the package, the lower the costs of delivery. Make certain that the amount of the charges being paid is the lowest possible charge. Larger packaging charges will hurt the bottom line every time • Avoid using only one postal carrier if there is an option available – always shop around for the best deals • It’s okay to negotiate: • Force 3rd-party carriers to compete for your business. Most carriers will work with their customers to help them find the lowest deals they can give. When packages are small, it is likely better to ship by regular mail carriers. When packages get larger, or if there are multiple packages, do the math! Whenever money can be saved, taking time to find a good deal is the best option. In the long run, you will see the money saving practices you use help you save and succeed.

13. Save on Shipping Costs for Business or Personal Needs when Sending Packages from Canada • Don’t lose money by not being inaccurate: • It’s easy to relax accuracy when there is pressure to meet time deadlines. Accuracy counts when the wrong postage is being paid. Remember, saving money is the best practice. The size of the box or package being sent needs to be right every time. Also, when packages are at a lower weight, it changes the cost dynamic. Another tip is to send packages as media mail when possible will also likely have lower costs. Don’t forget that different package standards may be different from country to country. • Use online mailing labels and purchasing packaging materials: • Where there is an alternative, purchasing labels online may cost less than going to the shipping center. It is a valuable time-saving practice, so go online when possible. Repurpose packaging when it is an option. This practice saves money by not purchasing packaging so often, but it is great for the environment. Use money-saving payment systems whenever it is possible.

14. The End For more details, please visit: http://octi.ca/