The logistics chain is long, complex, and requires a lot of coordination. Unfortunately, while the logistics chain can be a marvel of organization, that doesn’t mean it always works. There are some occasions when, despite all the planning, cargo that is set for a particular destination doesn’t arrive. But how does this happen? Here are some of the reasons why cargo gets lost and how some precautions, such as thermal quilt insulation, can sometimes help.
Lost At Sea
Unfortunately, there are some instances when cargo is largely unrecoverable, and being lost at sea is one of those scenarios. Depending on the type of cargo vessel used, sometimes, cargo containers, even when properly secured, may be vulnerable to extreme sea conditions.
Severe storms at sea can, through sheer force of waves and wind, knock cargo containers out of their secured positions, sometimes resulting in those containers falling into the ocean. Nearly 1400 cargo containers are lost at sea every year, so this will always be a risk.
Mistaken Loading
A far more recoverable mishap is when freight doesn’t arrive at its intended destination because it was never put on the appropriate vehicle for that destination. There are numerous ways that this can occur, from improperly filled out forms to errors in warehousing that result in the wrong cargo being loaded onto the wrong vehicle.
Whatever the cause, however, the result is the same: a vehicle flies, ships, or drives off without the cargo that was supposed to be on it. That cargo may now be sitting unnoticed in a warehouse or arrive at the wrong destination, with people unsure as to what to do with it.
Feeder Schedule Failure
As previously mentioned, logistics requires very precise organization. If one vehicle in the chain fails to make its schedule, other links in the chain must proceed regardless. This can mean that if a ship, plane, or truck is delayed for a vital transfer point, that next vehicle is forced to move ahead without all the cargo necessarily loaded on it.
Thermal quilt insulation can be an important failsafe mechanism in loading or scheduling incidents. While active temperature systems like reefer units can safely maintain required shipping temperatures during shipping, thermal quilt insulation is a passive protection system that can keep goods at their intended temperature for hours or even days at a time. This can be an important backup to ensure cargo remains viable instead of being compromised by a break in the logistics chain.
If you’re shipping temperature-sensitive products and want more protection, contact Protek Cargo with your needs and get a quote.
