{"id":3825,"date":"2019-12-09T16:54:39","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T15:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/en.advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/?p=3825"},"modified":"2019-12-09T16:54:39","modified_gmt":"2019-12-09T15:54:39","slug":"how-to-secure-cargo-with-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2019\/12\/09\/how-to-secure-cargo-with-air\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Secure Cargo with Air"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Secure Cargo with Air<\/h3>\n

Inflatable dunnage bags are an \u201cout-of-the-box\u201d solution for filling empty spaces in van and reefer trailers.<\/p>\n

Money and merchandise are lost every time van freight gets damaged from shifting, colliding, and breaking up during transit.<\/p>\n

The cause is often the start and stop bouncing and turning of trucks. \u00a0When double-stacked in trailers, palletized goods can have a relatively high center of gravity. In most cases, the pallets do not fit snugly together, leaving plenty of space for them to shift in transit.\u00a0 Even low-density products, like empty aluminum cans, can be damaged when vertical movement creates enough energy to damage the product if it\u2019s not stabilized.<\/p>\n

The costs of damaged product or packaging impacts the manufacture, the distributor and ultimately the end consumer. Even when product or packaging is not damaged after it tips over, warehouse employees or customers must spend time re-stacking them in order to unload.<\/p>\n

That work is not only inconvenient, but time-consuming.\u00a0 It can take up to an hour to re-stack one pallet.\u00a0 To re-stack a complete load could take as much as an entire day \u2013 a very significant expense.\u00a0 The risk to safety is also of concern when re-stacking, both for employers and the Department of Transportation.<\/p>\n

To address these concerns, the industry has typically turned to a variety of dunnage materials and methods including plywood, matting, strapping. and load bars to stabilize and secure truck loads during transportation. However, some of these options can be problematic for shippers, and billions of dollars are still lost annually due to products damaged as a result of inadequate dunnage.<\/p>\n

Filling Empty Spaces<\/h5>\n

This has led to considering \u201cout-of-the-box\u201d dunnage solutions to fill the empty spaces.\u00a0 At the top of this list are more advanced inflatable truck dunnage bags that can be inflated to precise pressure levels during the loading process.\u00a0 These solutions provide a number of benefits and are fully recyclable, making them one of the lowest-cost dunnage options.<\/p>\n

Estimated at a $420 million market in 2017 and projected to reach $740 million by 2026, dunnage air bags are becoming one of the most popular solutions for freight stabilization and protection in van trailers.<\/p>\n

Historically, inflatable air bags have used woven polypropylene, Kraft paper, vinyl or other combinations of materials to cover an air bladder. \u00a0With the exception of Kraft paper, most are manufactured overseas.\u00a0 Designed for single-trip use, air bags offer the advantage of being configurable and effective freight stabilizers for voids of up to 24 inches between pallets.<\/p>\n

Air bag design has continued to advance with improvements that lowers overall costs and improve performance for freight loaders and haulers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe material used to make the bag, the valve, inflation gun and other subtle \u2013 yet important – design features can add considerable value to this type of dunnage,\u201d says Mitch Tschantz, owner of Inflatable Packaging Incorporated<\/a><\/strong>, a Connecticut-based inflatable packaging and dunnage solutions provider founded in 1993.<\/p>\n

He says that Inflatable Packaging has developed a transparent air bag solution for their Air-Lock truck dunnage bags that is made of a fully recyclable polyethylene material.\u00a0 Unlike woven, paper or vinyl materials, the dunnage bags are made of a transparent film, which gives the bags lower weight and handling advantages.\u00a0 And because the film is extensible, which means it can stretch and expand (unlike inflatable air bladders with covers), it is of special value when used at varying altitudes.<\/p>\n

Because the material is clear and not opaque like other dunnage solutions, inspections are expedited.\u00a0 Tschantz says this is ideal for international shipments from OEMs with manufacturing centers in Mexico or suppliers from Canada.\u00a0 \u201cWith a bright light, inspectors can see through the material all the way to the bulkhead of the trailer to ensure there is no smuggled contraband or illegal border crossers,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

The polyethylene bags can be pre-positioned in the warehouse prior to loading, or in the trailer, using double-sided adhesive labels.\u00a0 The inflation valve can be either at the pallet top or bottom for easiest inflation. For forklift operators, pre-attaching bags to pallets in the warehouse can expedite the loading process by 25-30%, according to Tschantz.<\/p>\n

The Cling Factor<\/h5>\n

The surface of the polymer bags is treated with a charge of electricity so it clings to the stretch-film used to stabilize goods on pallets.\u00a0 Tschantz notes that other types of bags, including those with paper covers, may migrate out of position as a result of bouncing and shifting during transit.<\/p>\n

The valves used to inflate the bag are also a critical part of the overall design. \u00a0\u201cThe valve design affects the speed of inflation and allows for pressure adjustments as needed.\u00a0 In addition, our valve is manufactured with the same material as the bag so it can also be recycled without any required separation,\u201d says Tschantz.<\/p>\n

He says that\u2019s why Inflatable Packaging developed and patented a self-sealing \u201cflat\u201d valve system that allows for inflation and deflation.\u00a0 The company\u2019s Venturi-Action Inflator gun can fill most truck dunnage bags in less than 30 seconds to the pressure that matches the load density required for stable product shipment.<\/p>\n

According to Tschantz, the ability to precisely control air pressure in the bags was a benefit to an OEM based in Mexico that was shipping flat-panel televisions throughout North America.\u00a0 The company had a high damage rate due to bag expansion at high elevations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe manufacturer was incurring a damage rate as high as 14% when they would ship product from their sea level facility to Mexico City at an elevation of over 7,000 feet or through the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado where the elevation rises to more than 11,000 feet,\u201d says Tschantz. \u201cThe expansion of the bags was crushing some of the boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inflatable Packaging recommended using their patented inflation gun to adjust the pressure to precise settings to accommodate the expected elevation changes on the route.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe damage rates for the OEM dropped from 14% to less than 1%, which dramatically reduced the amount of goods that had to be marked down at retail,\u201d advises Tschantz. \u201cThose markdowns were often up to 40% off of the original price when the boxes were damaged, even if the television inside was completely fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Freight comes in all shapes and sizes each with its own unique stabilization requirements. Sometimes it is not only about the bag you select, but how you deploy it.<\/p>\n

Dealing with Shiners<\/h5>\n

Take shipments of empty aluminum cans, also known as \u201cshiners.\u201d\u00a0 When shipped to beverage processors, vertical movement within a trailer can cause an up-and-down motion that generates enough energy to crush cans. \u00a0By positioning inflatable bags on top of the load, the vertical movement is controlled.<\/p>\n

Refrigerated freight is another key market for truck dunnage bags as shippers have the additional concern of maintaining perishable goods such as fruits, vegetables and meats in optimal condition during transit. With traditional dunnage, refrigerated air fills the entire trailer but is not directed optimally.<\/p>\n

Instead, dunnage bumpers can be used.\u00a0 Air bumpers are similar to dunnage bags, but are long and skinny \u2013 up to 25\u2019 in length.\u00a0 The bumpers help control truck air flow, so the cold air blows up through the inside of pallets instead of randomly filling the entire area.\u00a0 This refrigerated air flow can include special gases used to enhance preservation of fruits and prevent early ripening.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy controlling the refrigerated air flow, less money is required on fuel and less refrigerated air is required for temperature control.\u00a0 It also works for gases used to extend the time it takes for fruit to ripen,\u201d says Tschantz.<\/p>\n

In addition to the advantages for shipping, inflatable air bags provide significant source reduction and recycling opportunities.<\/p>\n

Transportation costs, for example, can be reduced since a single pallet of Air-Lock air bags can replace 2-3 pallets of other dunnage options.\u00a0 When compared to other air bags, those with low profile flat valves only a few mils thick can be stacked 1200 per pallet, as opposed to 300-400 if traditional 1.5-inch height valves are used.\u00a0 These same features also impact storage and handling.<\/p>\n

Inflatable dunnage bags are also recyclable after use, particularly those made with a flat valve design constructed of the same polyethylene material.\u00a0 When this not the case, the non-recyclable components must first be separated, including any metal spring valves or external covers.\u00a0 Given the amount of work it requires, however, most bags that are not 100% recyclable instead end up in landfill.<\/p>\n

\u201cTruck dunnage has advanced well beyond simply filling voids inside boxes and between pallets,\u201d points out Tschantz. \u201cIt now is about solving unique challenges that come with the size, shape and temperature requirements of their goods– even the shipping routes that they take. \u00a0Smart design and customized solutions are improving efficiencies, better protecting goods, and reducing costs in supply chains.\u201d<\/p>\n

Source: https:\/\/www.truckinginfo.com<\/a><\/p>\n

FLEET MANAGEMENT AUDIT<\/h3>\n

Fleet management is the use of a set of vehicles in order to provide services to a third-party, or to perform a task for our organization, in the most efficient and productive manner with a determined level of service and cost.<\/p>\n

Fleet management activities are shown in the following graph 1:<\/p>\n

\"fleet<\/p>\n

Graph 1: fleet management activities<\/p>\n

The proposal audit analyses and assesses all fleet management activities shown in the graph 1, and its main goals are:<\/p>\n