Are you planning on starting your own cargo company? It can be difficult figuring out what equipment you need to get the job done. You may also find that you’re lacking one or two machines that can optimise workflow.
If you’re not sure what type of equipment you’ll need for your start-up business we’re here to assist you. In today’s article, we’ll be looking at 6 important pieces of equipment successful cargo companies use to transport goods. Find out more about tie down straps, scanners and other loading equipment right here! It may help you find the type of tools you need to make your business reach its goals faster.
1. Securing Cargo with Tie Down Straps
The most important piece of equipment any transport company will need is cargo tie downs. Heavy goods must always be secure to avoid damage to the cargo and carrier. There are various types of tie down straps, so let’s go through them to assist you with which ones you may require.
Ratchet Straps
Ratchet straps are so named because of their capabilities of locking and securing loads with a ratcheting system. These types of straps are heavy duty and incredibly durable. Ratchet straps can secure loads that weigh over 5000lb and they have up to a 15000lb strength rating.
The ratchet strap is a tighter form of cargo restraint so it’s ideal for heavy cargo loads.
Cam Buckle Straps
Cam buckle straps are not as robust as ratchet straps so they’re suitable for medium weight loads. These straps are typically used to secure motorbikes and quad bikes. They secure loads of up to 500lb with a breaking strength rating of up to 1500lb.
Lashing Straps
Lashing straps come with a user-friendly gator clip that allows you to tighten or loosen the straps quickly and easily. These straps are able to secure items of up to 100lb and they can have a breaking strength rate of 220lb.
The lashing strap is not meant for heavy-duty transportation. They are generally used to transport furniture and appliances such as fridges or freezers.
2. Loading Equipment for Heavy Cargo
Loading heavy cargo onto a ship, truck or aeroplane is extremely dangerous for a crew to do by hand. It will also take a lot of time if loading is done manually. That’s why it’s crucial that you have the correct loading equipment for this kind of job.
Here are four types of loading equipment that may be useful for your business:
- Forklifts: This type of loading machine is used in warehouses, cargo terminals and factories. A forklift can raise heavy items up easily to be placed on scaffolding, shelves or onto cargo carriers.
- Depalletiser: A machine that removes items from pallets. There are various designs of depalletisers ideal to move different types of cargo.
- Palletiser: This machine loads items onto pallets on high or low-level shelving.
- Hoists: A hoist is a type of pulley system that can lift heavy loads off the ground using a hook and chain. The machine can then move the cargo onto the carrier easily.
3. Machines to Transport Goods from a Warehouse to Cargo Carriers
Cargo will be stored in a warehouse so that goods don’t get damaged by the elements. However, goods can be located far away from the transportation carrier. You will need machines to move cargo to the carrier.
Some transportation companies use conveyor belts to move goods from one place to another. Others will use forklifts, trolleys or trailers. For extremely heavy cargo, trucks will be used to transport containers to ships.
4. Sorting Mechanisms for Control
For large cargo transportation companies, there must be a means of sorting goods. There are machines capable of printing and automatically applying labels to items. For lighter loads, there are automatic sorting machines that categorise loads so that they’re easier to retrieve inside warehouses.
5. Scanners and Digital Archiving
A cargo company must have a digital archive of all the goods that are sitting in the warehouse and all items that have been shipped. But how do these companies keep track of goods? Well, most transportation companies use a barcode system.
Barcodes are placed on items as well as in assigned locations around the warehouse. Once these barcodes are scanned using a digital device, it will upload the information onto a computer. Here, crew or clerks are able to view what’s inside the warehouse and when items are moved to a different location.
Status updates of the items can show whether the goods have been sent out or if they’re still being stored in the warehouse. This system assists with transportation control.
6. Equipment to Weigh Goods
Ships, trucks and aeroplanes have a weight limit. For safety reasons, specific equipment such as load monitoring devices must be used to determine the weight of cargo before it’s placed onto a carrier.
Final Thoughts
We hope our article was informative and helped you decide which cargo machines & equipment to buy for your business. If you have the correct equipment it will ensure your crews’ safety when they’re transporting goods and it will streamline workflow.
