How to reduce

Transit Losses?

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How to reduce Transit Loss?

Principally there are four type modes of transportation 1) By Air,

2) By Sea,
3) By Road,
4) By Rail.
Every mode of transportation has their own pro-cons.

Hazards
There are many hazards in every kind of mode of transportation. Few are as
under By Road
Abrupt Braking and Sudden Acceleration of vehicles,
Bad Condition of roads,
Jerks and Shocks during Transits,
Vehicular accidents.
Rail
Acceleration and deceleration of trains,
Derailments of trains,
Shocks and vibrations due to wagon
collision during shunting

Sways on rail curves

Sea

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How to reduce Transit Loss?

Wave impact, during violent seas and high tides
Surging, heaving and pitching due to vessel motion
Temperature variation, both high and low.
Collisions and sinking due to bad sea and navigation

Air
Air Turbulence
Change in Atmospheric pressure and temperature
Air Jerks

Causes of Loss and Damages

Handling

Abrupt speed of material handling equipment (Forklift/Trucks).

Abrupt speed while lifting and lowering of cargo
Handling of material by in-experience labor
Improper or inadequate packing material
Over load of stacks
Wrong handling of material, lifting of cement/sugar/fertilizer bags with
hooks

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How to reduce Transit Loss?

Water Damage
Floods en-route
Uncovered/Unprotected cargo comes in contact with water during bad
weather
Defective bottom and body of the
containers prone to getting damaged
due to water and humidity

Leakage of liquid cargo

Unsealed containers
During high tides water may fall on dock
and effect the loaded consignment

Damaged Train Containers

Chemical and Paints, if not cushioned, containers may get damaged
Contamination

Food articles if kept for long in transit, contaminate

Cargo is not air cooled where required, like milk and allied products,
flowers, fruit and vegetables

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How to reduce Transit Loss?

If the cargo is not properly sealed then there is
chances of lizards, mouse and other to come inside
the container and spoil the hygiene of the material

If the container is not delivered within prescribe

time, then also the material my get contaminated

Temperature and moisture sensitive material to

be packed adequately otherwise due to
temperature variation and moisture the material
may be damaged.

Containers should be fumigated with the

prescribed and approved fumigant
Fire

Temperature sensitive material may ignite, if

proper temperature and conditions are not
maintained

Inflammable material to be marked with

caution to keep the material away from
smoke and fire

Explosive if not properly pack, may get fired

Theft and Pilferage

The containers and trucks, if not properly sealed and locked there is chance
of theft and pilferage

Due to no/inadequate marking on material and destination, on the cargos

the cargo may be routed on wrong path

No security measures
High jacking of the cargo
5

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How to reduce Transit Loss?

Prevention of Losses
Lock the consignment properly with seal
Install GPS chip for tracking the container
If the material is expensive, then a security guard can be staffed
The container used should be leak-proof and free from any damage
To prevent the consignment from infestation, prescribed fumigation should
be done

Over loading of the container or vehicles should be avoided

Cover the consignment with water proof tarpaulins
Material may be stored on wooden pallets, where-ever need
Avoid using steel hooks for unloading the material packed in plastic/gunny
bags

The floor of the containers and truck should be even

To bear the jerks in sea, air or on road cushions
should be used

To prevent accidents and toppling, speed

managers/controllers should be installed on
the vehicles

GPS chip should be implemented on the

vehicles for tracking in case of theft

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How to reduce Transit Loss?

For more articles on SCM, Logistics services in India, please keep
visiting www.scm-re-engineering.com

About author
Rajinder Singh Mann, B.Sc., PGDCS, MBA, MPhil. Having Experience of 25 years
in S&OP, Education, Logistics, SCM. Has worked in diverse industries like
Publishing, Fasteners, Paints and Varnishes, Food Processing, Education and
Training, Steel wares and Table-wares. Presently associated with Ceramics
Industry heading Supply Chain Department.

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