10 ways to protect sensitive electronic goods during ground transportation

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Electronic goods have become the cornerstone of development. There are hardly any active businesses that don’t rely on them. Therefore, it has become common to see multiple electronic devices being carried on delivery trucks and transported via roadways. 

In addition to being expensive, electronic goods are also extremely fragile. Mishandling them during transport often leads to costly damages whose recovery costs are often nightmares for delivery companies. 

Thankfully, there are ways that you can mitigate the risks associated with transportation. This article will explain the 10 ways to protect sensitive electronic goods when delivered via ground transportation. 

 

Tips to ensure that the electronics goods aren’t damaged during delivery

Suppose your company is going through a shift. For obvious reasons, you’d need to ensure that multiple electronic goods are carried inside the delivery trucks so that the shift can happen quickly. Your time is less, and the pressure mounting on you is high. 

Don’t worry. By following these ten tips, you would be able to transport your workstations safely and on time. 

  • Disassemble your systems first: When transporting your devices, every bump and sudden move on the road can cause serious damage if you have not disassembled them. You need the components of these devices to stay separate during transport. Consult a manual or ask for help from your co-workers to disassemble critical components to transport them separately.
  • Reach out to a service provider specializing in crating, shipping, and packaging: The devices you need delivered are critical for your business. Therefore, choosing your service provider must also be a crucial decision. Transporting electronic goods is not just about taking the articles from point A to point B. You need to consider the packaging materials, how the service provider plans to organize the goods in his truck, etc. You have to be precise about choosing the right company. 
  • Covering the items with a protective layer of anti-static wrap: Companies have started to make modern electronic devices sturdier. A minor bounce won’t damage them, but a build-up of static electricity would. It can damage the circuit and the other components. If ignored for a long time, it can also damage multiple equipments. Therefore, cover the devices with an anti-static wrap. 
  • Invest in wood crates to transport sensitive electronics: You require custom-designed wood crates to protect fragile electronic devices. They provide maximum protection and can be crafted for single or multiple uses. You might think the expense for a “crate” might be too much. However, you’d be thankful for using a lightweight corrugated cardboard container when hauling your PC monitors over long distances. 
  • Using vapor barrier bagging: Suppose you are shifting to another state during a time when weather conditions aren’t optimal. Environmental factors such as high humidity, constant rains, and rapidly changing temperatures can spell a death sentence for the onboard circuitry of your devices if you’re not careful. Although meant to protect the devices when transported over the ocean, Vapour Barrier bagging is suitable for such conditions. Once you’ve placed the device inside the barrier, remove any additional air and heat seal it using a vacuum tool. 
  • Prepare backups for your component: While your primary concern should be protecting electronic goods during transportation at all times, there are some extrinsic factors you can’t control. Therefore, for PCs and laptops, make sure to create multiple back-ups of the data so that the info stays safe at all times. 
  • Use packaging that minimizes the movements: When packing an electronic device, ensure there is no vacant space inside the box. Empty spaces give your device an area for movement, making it prone to physical damage. Therefore, it is advisable to fill the vacant area with packing peanuts or bubble wrap. It will cushion the movement and prevent any damage from befalling your electronic device. 
  • Separating the heavy from the light: All your packing efforts would go in vain if you’re not careful about the placement of your devices. If you’re stacking your Laptops or PCs with, say, a large piece of furniture, then it doesn’t matter how carefully you have packaged your goods. Sudden movements will cause major damage to your devices. Thus, keep the light devices separate from the heavy goods. Better yet, choose a different vehicle for electronic goods altogether. 
  • Place the goods properly: Now comes the issue of where to place the electronic devices in the truck. You now know that you can’t place them in the proximity of the heavy articles. The tip here is to follow the electronic devices’ size and nature. Monitors should be placed upright, supported by the walls of the vehicle. When transporting multiple screens, please don’t put them atop each other; place them upright and in a queue. Wrap the smaller devices individually and put them inside a cardboard box. Always place that box at a place where its movement is minimum.
  • Drive safely: Finally, and perhaps the most important part of transporting goods safely on the ground is to drive vigilantly. Bad driving equals luggage bumping into each other throughout the journey, and there is a limit to how much collision they can take. Go slow when the terrain is rough, and slowly pick up the pace when you encounter a smoother lane. Your task is to make sure that at no point do your packing efforts go to waste.

Conclusion

Ground transportation of electronic goods is not a child’s play. You have to take care of every facet into account during the packaging process and watch out for every turn and every lane when driving. Any negligence can cause “expensive” accidents. 

However, if you have the right packing materials, have properly loaded the goods onto the delivery truck, and know the value of driving judiciously, you won’t have anything to worry about. 

Are you interested in knowing the right ways to transport goods on ground, ship, or air? Contact Global Hazmat. Our training programs will help you decipher the complex transportation regulations and achieve a global presence in the logistics industry. With our consulting and auditing services, you’ll be able to review the best safety practices to follow when transporting sensitive electronic goods.