7 Common Shipping Challenges And How To Manage Them (2024)

We would all love to live in an ideal world where our items leave the warehouse and arrive at our doorstep in good time and condition. Unfortunately, such a world doesn’t exist as there is no shortage of complaints regarding shipping items internationally.

Rather than mope about the challenges, you are better off knowing how to deal with problems when they arise. Here is a list of common shipping challenges and how to manage them.

Loss Of Items

It is not uncommon for items to get lost once they enter the shipping stream, especially if you are dealing with shady shipping companies. Another disadvantage of working with such companies is that they become very defensive when you reach out about your lost item.

Fortunately, you will hardly lose a thing when you ship with premium shipping and crating providers. When you report a lost item, they will use the tracking number to find your parcel and resolve the issue as soon as possible.

Adverse Weather Conditions

There is no telling what could happen to your parcels when they are out at sea. For instance, the high levels of humidity could damage electrical appliances.

Since you want your packages to arrive in tip-top shape, you could add desiccants in the boxes and wrap the parcels in packaging that is resistant to moisture. It would also be a good idea to use cards that indicate the items within the parcel are sensitive to humidity.

Damage of Goods During Handling or Shipping

Handlers at the shipping stream are usually very rough when loading parcels into trucks, ships, and airplanes, causing them to get damaged. We understand they are in a time crunch and must ensure all the packages are safely tucked in the mode of transportation by the time it is ready to leave.

However, it wouldn’t hurt to be a bit gentler with the parcels. Turbulence in the air, bumpy roads, and storms at sea could also contribute to the damaged state of the parcel once it arrives. You could remedy this issue by using the proper packaging and developing an appropriate crating system to reduce the risk of damage.

Dealing With Split Shipments

A split shipment is whereby you pay for certain items online only for the provider to deliver your items at different times.

At first, the recipient might second-guess themselves and wonder why they haven’t received everything they ordered. Split shipments occur when the supplier cannot fit everything into one box.

It is also likely that the supplier stored their inventory in separate warehouses, causing them to send separate parcels. Split shipments waste packaging materials, reduce customer satisfaction, and increase shipping costs. The best way to prevent divided shipments is to deal with a customs brokerage that anticipates demand so you will always have enough stock.

You could also ask your clients whether they want to wait longer to receive their products at once instead of accepting their items in chunks.

Disruption of Shipping Routes

You might spend lots of time planning your shipping logistics and go the extra mile to source for a reliable shipping company.

However, some external forces could cause your parcel to arrive in poor shape. These external forces include natural calamities, political instability, or breakdown of the transportation vessel.

An excellent way to mitigate this issue would be to work with a seasoned shipping company with extensive knowledge about problem spots along the shipping route. They could also research the events occurring worldwide to determine which countries are a no-go zone.

High Shipping Costs

We don’t dispute that shipping comes with some costs.

However, some providers charge unreasonably high prices to transport an item from one point to another. If you feel the shipping costs are too excessive, you could keep hunting till you find a provider with a reasonable price. We also suggest you start planning for shipping months in advance to avoid settling for an expensive provider due to the last-minute rush to get your items on time.

Handling Hazardous Materials

There are rules concerning the shipping of hazmat from point A to point B. we reckon you cannot use the regular shipping channels to transport hazardous materials to prevent corrosion or contamination.

Therefore, it would be wise to work with an experienced shipping company specializing in transporting hazardous materials. You wouldn’t want to break any rules or put the handlers at risk with your shipment.

Bottom Line

Problems occur at almost every stage in our lives or jobs. The difference is how we tackle these challenges moving forward and prevent them from happening again. We hope this article has been insightful.

Thanks for reading! Please let me know your thoughts and comments below.

7 Common Shipping Challenges And How To Manage Them