The Best New Shipping Practices, Breaking it Down
Shipping: What is it?
Shipping involves moving your inventory from the warehouse to its final destination. It may sound simple, but shipping is more complex than it appears. It goes beyond just loading goods onto a truck. Let’s explore the steps involved in processing an outbound load.
To Stage or Not?
Some warehouses prepare every load for staging, while others only stage loads labeled for LTL carriers. A key consideration is your preferred shipping method, as each option comes with its advantages and disadvantages. We typically stage unique loads, such as those containing multiple SKUs or specific code dates. However, when we load a truck with a single item, we usually skip the staging process to minimize extra handling. If you require more frequent staging of your loads, confirm that the warehouse you’re considering has a committed staging area. Don’t hesitate to walk away from a warehouse if its shipping procedures don’t line up with your needs.
Shipping & How to Choose
How does a warehouse decide which inventory to ship? At our location, we receive releases from clients that include details like lot numbers, which allow us to pull the requested inventory. For example, if a client requests the shipment of twenty pallets of MX-52221, we immediately know what needs to go out. When we input this information into our Warehouse Management System (WMS), the system creates a pick ticket that shows the item, its location, and the specific MX# for shipping. In short, we have multiple methods for locating products, whether we load them directly onto a truck or transfer them to a staging area.
Pros & Cons
A benefit to staging is that the load can be checked to ensure accuracy. This becomes critical when the shipment is less than a truckload. The check proves that the load left your warehouse as ordered. The disadvantage is that it requires more handling and can increase a client’s rates. In our opinion, there aren’t too many cons to staging most outbound loads.
