Something has been happening across food and beverage distribution, and it is hard to miss. Major retailers and manufacturers are announcing automated facilities at a pace not seen in years. Robotics, AI-powered fulfillment, machine vision, autonomous vehicles inside the warehouse. The inside of a modern distribution center looks nothing like it did a decade ago. […]
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The KICK STOPS
Field Guide.
Load patterns, freight securement best practices, sustainability, and everything in between. Real knowledge from the team that built the system.
DunnagePosted on
What Dunnage Do Costco Suppliers Need to Know About?
Getting into Costco is hard. Staying in Costco requires consistent execution on every load that ships to their receiving docks. For suppliers, one of the most consequential and least discussed parts of that execution is dunnage. What Is Dunnage? Dunnage is any material used to protect and stabilize freight inside a trailer during transit. Traditional […]
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Cargo RestraintPosted on
What Causes In Transit Freight Damage on Intermodal Lanes?
Intermodal freight lanes consistently produce higher damage rates than over-the-road lanes. Most operations know this. Fewer understand exactly why. And fewer still address the root cause at the right point in the process. What Makes Intermodal Lanes Different? An intermodal shipment moves on more than one mode of transportation, typically a combination of truck and […]
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Load PatternsPosted on
What Causes Pallet Pyramiding and How Do You Prevent It?
Pallet pyramiding is one of the most common types of freight damage in food and beverage distribution. It is also one of the most preventable. And it almost always starts at the loading dock, not on the road. What Is Pallet Pyramiding? Pallet pyramiding occurs when the product on a pallet shifts and leans to […]
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Cargo RestraintPosted on
What Is the Difference Between Load Design and Cargo Securement?
If you have ever had a load shift in transit, you may have assumed the securement failed. In most cases, the securement was never the problem. The load design was. Load design and cargo securement are two distinct things. Most operations treat them as one. That confusion is where most in transit damage starts. What […]
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Cargo RestraintPosted on
How a Leading Baby Wipes Manufacturer Eliminated 250,000 lbs of Dunnage Annually
In supply chain, the problems that cost the most are rarely the ones that get the most attention. Dunnage is a perfect example. Airbags, wood 2x4s, cardboard. Most facilities treat these as a fixed cost of doing business. You need to fill the void, you buy the materials, you load the trailer, and you do […]
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Cargo RestraintPosted on
What Is Load Securement Actually Costing You? (Most Operations Don’t Know)
Ask a supply chain director what they spend on load securement and you’ll usually get one number: the dunnage line item. Airbags, cardboard, bars, 2x4s. Whatever shows up on the purchasing report. That number is real. It’s also incomplete by roughly half. The true cost of load securement has four components, and most operations are […]
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Cargo RestraintPosted on
Why Do Pallets Shift in Transit? (And What It’s Actually Costing You)
You’ve seen it. Trailer doors open at the dock and instead of tight, clean rows, you’re staring at a leaning mess. Pallets walked, product shifted, maybe a toppled load. The driver shrugs. Someone mutters about road conditions. And the cost of that moment quietly hits your P&L in three or four different places before anyone […]
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Load PatternsPosted on
Why Bricking Your Load Virtually Eliminates Damage Claims
Gaps between pallets are the number one cause of in-transit freight damage — and most carriers don’t even realize it’s happening until a claim lands on their desk. The fix is simpler than you think. When freight shifts inside a trailer, it’s rarely because the road was rough or the driver braked too hard. It’s […]
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