When you’re shipping large items – which may or may not be fragile – you will need a shipping crate that’s built in accordance with freight carrier regulations as well as any relevant laws in your shipment’s destination. For best results, you’ll want to work with a Boston shipping company that offers custom crating services.
Custom crating involves shipping crates built to order. The reason you want a custom crate is that shipping crates should be sized to offer the appropriate amount of protection for your items while simultaneously keeping the cost of shipping as low as possible. When shipping crates are too large, it’s easy for items to shift inside of them and get damaged. Shipping crates that are too large also cost more than they should to ship.
Be aware that international regulations require that shipping crates be built out of treated wood. This prevents the spread of insects and diseases from one country to another. International authorities aren’t kidding about this regulation. If your crate doesn’t meet standards, it will be rejected – and that doesn’t mean it’s automatically returned to you. Rejected shipments are often delayed and sometimes lost – which could be inconvenient and expensive.
Shipping crates also need to be built to meet the needs of the people who are receiving your shipment. For example, it’s not unusual for business owners to need shipping crates built with pallet-style bases. A pallet-style base allows a crate to be moved with a forklift or pallet-jack. This is useful for loading crates onto and off of trucks, as well as in the warehouse and distribution center setting.
Timelines and budgets also matter when choosing custom crating services. If you need a large number of shipping crates fairly rapidly, you’ll want to work with a Boston shipping company prepared to meet your needs. Additionally, while you never want to go with the lowest bidder, you will want to be sure you’re getting good value for your money when you purchase custom shipping crates.