| There are numerous considerations that need to be | | | | and 90" tall. The entire inside width is 94" as well. It is |
| taken into account when designing custom built | | | | best practice to keep your crate dimensions a |
| crates for your product. One of the most important | | | | minimum of one inch under these dimensions to allow |
| considerations when designing wood crating is to | | | | for dock plates and ease of loading and unloading. |
| determine the mode of transportation. There may be | | | | The available inside length of these containers is 19.5' |
| various restrictions on the size of a package | | | | and 39.5'. There are also 40' "High Cube" sea |
| depending on how the product will be transported. In | | | | containers as well. They have the same 94" width |
| most cases a product will be moved via truck, and | | | | but offer an additional 12" of height. It is best to |
| then either rail, ocean, air or a combination. Additional | | | | keep your crate height at 101" or less. Other options |
| considerations may include reusable crating, handling | | | | include open top containers (allow for taller product |
| restrictions at destination and within your own facility, | | | | yet) and there are also new sizes of sea containers |
| temperature, humidity as well as shock and vibration | | | | being introduced such as 45' and 53' long containers. |
| concerns. | | | | It's best to check once again with your freight |
| Once the fragility of a product is determined, the | | | | forwarding agent and work with your crating |
| gross weight of a product and proper cushioning and | | | | specialist to determine your best options if you're |
| preservation methods have been evaluated, one | | | | close to exceeding the standard allowed dimensions. |
| needs to consider the overall size of the finished | | | | For extremely large product that ships via ocean, it is |
| crate. The outside height measurement is most likely | | | | often classified as "break bulk" and is stowed on the |
| the greatest factor in affecting how much (or how | | | | sea vessel alone and not inside of a sea container. It |
| much additional cost) you'll pay in transportation costs | | | | is usually lifted with overhead cranes and extremely |
| to move your crated product. In virtually every | | | | large fork lifts. Lifting locations and appropriate |
| instance, no matter how large the product is, there | | | | markings are highly recommended. |
| are means and ways to transport extremely large | | | | When product needs to move from your facility it |
| crated products. You simply may be restricted as | | | | can be moved via truck with swing doors (usual |
| outbound flights or sailing dates are less frequent and | | | | height openings of 110" and width of 99") or trucks |
| more costly. | | | | with roll up doors (usually 104" tall opening). The other |
| Some common height restrictions for air bound | | | | consideration when moving product via "low boy" |
| shipments are based on the aircraft door openings. All | | | | (step deck) or flat bed trailers is that a permit is |
| crated product that is 64" or less in height can be | | | | commonly required when the width exceeds 102". |
| moved via passenger or cargo planes, and provide | | | | Some additional items to consider are markings, |
| the most flexibility when shipping domestic or | | | | perishable cargo, liquid cargo, water damage |
| internationally. Other height restrictions are 88" tall | | | | protection, ISPM15 compliance and dangerous goods. |
| side door openings on DC-10 planes, as well as 96" tall | | | | Provide adequate ventilation for perishable cargo |
| door openings in the nose cone section on 747 | | | | when required. We highly recommend use of |
| freighter planes. Main deck side door openings are | | | | moisture barriers such as MIL-J-131 water vapor |
| 118" tall as well on 747 freighters. Airbus planes are | | | | barrier packaging with desiccant or VCI materials to |
| becoming more popular and freighter service will | | | | protect products against moisture and corrosion. |
| usually schedule 1-2 flights per week to most | | | | Investigate and be certain that no classified |
| countries. | | | | dangerous goods or hazardous products are |
| There also are some crate length and width | | | | improperly labeled (or not labeled at all) and that they |
| considerations to keep in mind. When shipping via air, | | | | are packaged in UN approved containers. Use of |
| it is highly recommended to keep crate lengths less | | | | appropriate international markings such as orientation |
| than 120" whenever possible. This is due to the fact | | | | of the crating is highly recommended, as is the use |
| that most bulky or larger crated products are | | | | of official ISPM15 markings by a certified crating |
| secured to a flat rack or air pallet. This is a low profile | | | | supplier. There are currently over 134 countries that |
| heavy-duty aluminum or steel platform equipped with | | | | have adopted the ISPM15 standard for heat-treated |
| fittings that allow the pallet to be firmly attached to | | | | lumber used in solid wood packaging. Furthermore, |
| the aircraft deck. Air freight pallets are typically 10' or | | | | don't forget your packing slips and export |
| 20' in length. Freight is then normally secured to the | | | | documentation as well with gross and net weights. |
| air pallet with cargo netting and the use of tensioned | | | | For very large or extremely heavy cargo you should |
| straps. Airlines have been known to charge for two | | | | check with your carrier or freight forwarding agent |
| air pallet "positions" in some instances when a crate | | | | as well as a certified and experienced crating |
| exceeds the 10' length (even if only exceeding by | | | | professional to confirm capabilities and booking |
| two or there inches). This could be very costly! | | | | information. Communicating and planning the shipment |
| Some common limitations for ocean bound freight | | | | well in advance can save a significant amount of time |
| exist as well. Most commonly used are 20' and 40' | | | | and expense in the long run. |
| standard sea containers. Door openings are 94" wide | | | | |