Why does dunnage matter in transportation?
Cargo that shifts during transport can be crushed, broken or contaminated, and it can also damage the vehicle or create a safety risk on the road. Dunnage absorbs movement and fills empty space, which reduces the likelihood of claims for damage. It also helps meet the load securing standards that carriers and authorities expect.
How does dunnage work in logistics?
Loaders place the cargo in the container or trailer and identify any gaps where movement could occur. Dunnage is positioned to fill these gaps and brace the load against the walls, floor or other cargo. Inflatable airbags can be used to fill larger spaces and are inflated to the correct pressure. Once the goods are delivered, the dunnage is removed, and it is either reused or disposed of according to its material.
Transport types and industries that use dunnage
- Sea freight in containers
- Road freight in trailers and box vans
- Rail wagons carrying heavy or irregular cargo
- Breakbulk and project cargo transport
- Machinery and industrial equipment shipping
- Furniture and glass transport
- Automotive parts and component transport
Example in practice
A furniture manufacturer in Kraków, Poland loads 24 sofas into a 13.6-metre trailer for delivery to a distributor in Lyon, France. The sofas are wrapped in film, and the gaps between the sofas and the trailer walls are filled with wooden dunnage and inflatable airbags. The airbags are inflated to a set pressure to stop the stacks from moving on the motorway. On arrival in Lyon, the distributor’s team removes the airbags and wooden blocks, and the dunnage is collected for reuse on the next load.