Freight damage is almost always preventable, and it's almost always the same few mistakes. If you're palletizing fragile or high-value freight, these are the ones to fix first.
Build the pallet base first
Weight should sit on the strongest, flattest part of the pallet — heavier items on the bottom, distributed evenly, never overhanging the edge. An overhanging load is the single biggest cause of in-transit tipping.
Void fill is not optional
Empty space inside a box or between palletized items is where damage happens during handling and transit vibration. Fill it completely, not "mostly."
Strap, don't just shrink-wrap
Shrink wrap holds a load together for a forklift ride across a warehouse. It does not hold a load together on a truck for eight hours. Use proper strapping for anything going any real distance.
Mark it clearly
"Fragile," "This side up," and weight markings actually change how handlers treat a shipment — but only if they're visible from more than one side of the pallet.
Shipping something unusually fragile or high-value? Our freight team can advise on packing before you book, not after something arrives damaged.