subject: Crating - The Size Considerations You Must Remember [print this page] When it comes to choosing the right crating for your shipments, there are a number of considerations that go into the formula. First and foremost, you need a company that specializes in the business of getting products to their destination safely. Next, there are design factors such as the type of wood to be used, the protective packing that will keep your product from getting broken en route to its destination and, of course, size. Size is an important factor not only when it comes to choosing your crate, but also when it comes to choosing your method of transportation. In fact, the two considerations go hand in hand.
Aircraft
The quickest way to move your product to its destination is through the air. It may be more expensive than some of your other options, but if you need something to arrive quickly, you have no better choices. It is the door openings on the plane that determine how large your crating can be. Freight aircrafts are specially designed just to take cargo -- rather than passengers -- but even those come in a number of different forms. A 747, for instance, is going to be able to take much larger crates than a smaller plane. When making your transportation choices, ensure that your product will actually fit through the doors.
Ocean liner
Just because you choose to ship your pallet of good through the old reliable passage of sea doesn't mean you won't have restrictions on the size of your crating. While you'll have much greater freedom when it comes to the length of your crate (many shipments are up to 40 feet in length), the biggest limitations are still going to be determined by the door clearance, which is again a factor of height. Most ships insist on keeping the containers less than 90 inches in height. There are also restrictions on width, which may top out at approximately 94 inches.
Choosing Crating
When you choose a crating company, make sure they understand the considerations at play with your transportation options. Any professional company will know the basic restrictions, but you need to be frank and upfront when you talk to them about your plans for the shipment. If they think a product is going to be flown to its destination when you are sending it by truck, a different set of criteria is going to be in play. As long as the company knows what it is doing and you give them the information they need, there shouldn't be any problems.
