Wooden Pallets

In the past, wood was the only option for pallets, and it remains the most popular type of shipping pallet today.

Pros: 
• Strong and fairly durable
• Inexpensive
• Can be reused multiple times
• Slip-resistant
• If damaged, is easily repaired

Cons:
• Heavier than other materials
• While reusable, there are limits, as structural integrity is weakened over time
• Can splinter
• Loose, protruding or rusty nails can damage packaging, the shipment or hurt workers
• May contain pests or pathogens like Listeria or E Coli
• May be quarantined by customs officials for pest or pathogen contamination

Cardboard/Corrugate Pallets

Pros:

• Lightweight — just 25% of what wood pallets weigh, reducing shipping costs drastically
• Affordable — comparable in cost to wooden pallets
• Easily broken down and recycled after use
• Compliant with ISPM 15 regulations for international shipping

Cons:
• Lack of durability; lose structural integrity quickly
• Susceptible to moisture damage
• Generally can only be used once
• Are porous and can’t be cleaned/sanitized

Plastic Pallets

Pros:
• Highly durable; can be reused many times
• Lightweight — just 70% of wood weight
• Lowered shipping costs due to low weight
• Interlock for easy stacking and storage
• Pose less risk to workers due to being lightweight and free of nails
• Non-porous, so no risk of pests or bacteria

Cons:
• Cost about 3x what wooden pallets cost
• Although more durable than wood, when damaged, they are not repairable

Learn about the shipping services from Quick Transfer USA at www.QuickTransferUSA.com.

Moreso than the governance of the island city, it’s really the capitalistic culture of Hong Kong that gives it this unique feel. Hong Kong is one of the busiest trading hubs in the world with one of the most free markets. People and companies from the US, Canada, China, Japan, and Europe all come to Hong Kong to do business, and use the island as a hub for freighting.

Hong Kong currently ranks third for busiest container ports throughout the world. It is perhaps unsurprising that the top ten are all in Asia, with only the ninth, Jebel Ali, in Dubai, being found outside of Southeast Asia. Shanghai, China remains the busiest hub in the world for freighting.

Even in the more decentralized digital age, freighting companies like Quick Transfer USA still drive much of world culture.

The cause for all of this is obvious. People are buying and sending their holiday gifts, and putting shipping companies to work. Yet for those companies who rely on the shipping industry to get their products to potential customers and keep their businesses running well, the holidays can be a challenging time.

If your business needs to make a shipment during a busy time of year like the holidays, or any time of year, Quick Transfer USA can help. We offer expedited shipping services that speed up the process by providing multiple drivers and a tracking system so that you always know where your freight is. Quick Transfer USA’s time-critical service will get your delivery to its destination promptly and safely, even during the busy holiday shipping season. Quick Transfer USA offers expedited shipping, including less-than-truckload options, to help prevent holiday season catastrophes.

Image Credit: US Department of Transportation

From Point A to Point B

Understanding the network of highways that lead from point A to point B is important. Roads change every minute of every day. Weather, governmental restrictions, construction, seasonal and daily traffic are just a few of the events that can cause delays. Those delays affect travel time, can lead to unsafe driving practices, and drive up the cost of transporting freight. Quick Transfer USA guarantees that your freight gets where it needs to go safely, on time, and at a competitive price.

Share the Road

Safety is job one. It helps no one when trucks are delayed due to accidents. Knowing the highway system and how it changes helps keep drivers on time without creating unsafe driving conditions. Understanding what the best route is helps to ensure that prices remain competitive, that freight gets there on time and that the roads remain safe for all who use them.

Quick Transfer USA makes the commitment to know the highway system. That commitment is part of what sets Quick Transfer USA apart from competitors. By keeping our finger on the pulse of the major freight routes, we are able to overcome problems that slow other freight companies down. That is a benefit that we pass on to all of our customers.

1. Stand Out. Traditional crates and cartons can look dull and homogenous. Choose a color or pattern and paint your boxes to stand out amidst the sea of crates that will be arriving at the Trade Show.

2. Retire Old Crates and Boxes. Packaging only lasts so long, often just for just one round trip. Crates can last longer, but be sure to inspect and repair them as needed. Remove any old address and carrier labels before re-using.

3. Condense Your Shipment. Save on shipping costs by doing things like using 2′ x 2′ interlocking carpet panels for your booth floor instead of a large roll. Find other ways to consolidate and condense your shipment. Weigh and measure each piece accurately.

4. Specialized Packaging. Fragile, high-value items will need special packaging to ensure they will be protected in transit. Heavy anvil type containers that are designed for shipping fragile glass screens will ensure items like plasma monitors ship safely.

5. Material Handling Forms (MHA, Bill of Lading). Complete all forms fully and accurately to ensure your Trade Show freight will be shipped according to your wishes. Turn them over to the Exhibitor Service Center after you’re packed up and ready to ship.

6. Emergency Numbers. Lastly, supply your shipping rep, setup/dismantle reps and the exhibit manager with your emergency contact phone numbers. Print the main emergency contact number on all of your boxes as well.

Break it Down
You want to eliminate movable parts and isolate fragile pieces as much as possible. If your fragile shipment can be disassembled, break it down as much as possible. It’s easier to protect a single glass ornament in it’s own padded box than it is to protect that same piece attached to a piece of furniture, and in the event of an accident, you won’t damage everything.

Remember That It Needs to be Moved
Sometimes when damage-proofing fragile goods, it becomes inconvenient or cumbersome to actually move the item. Heavy padding may protect furniture from dings and scratches, but improperly arranged you’ll have nowhere for a comfortable grip. When an object becomes difficult to move, the odds of an ‘incident’ skyrocket.

Transportation Matters
All the careful packaging in the world can’t compensate for careless shipping. Tossing your valuable goods in a cramped trunk or loose in truck bed may not be the best way to get them where they’re going. Mailing is likewise a questionable option, but you can insure shipments to be sure

So take care how your goods are transported. That might mean putting a bit of care into shipping it yourself, or hiring a specialist company to handle your fragile goods. What best suits your needs will depend on what exactly you are moving–fine china is one thing, a grand piano another.

There’s plenty of avocados available in Finland despite the fact that it’s impossible to grow them in the nation. A global market for produce, meat, and grain has led to a massive quantity of food traveling across the world, from tropical regions to temperate climates and vice-versa. In fact, bananas represent the second-most imported commodity in the United States by weight due to the national demand for a fruit that cannot be grown in the nation outside of Florida and Hawaii. That’s three million metric tons per year, or six billion pounds, or about 20 billion individual fruits.

The threads upon our backs originate from many different places world-wide. The cotton may have been grown in Egypt, the wool from New Zealand, the silk from China, the tailoring in Pakistan. Not only do clothes represent one of the most-traded goods, but they also represent one of the most-counterfeited goods, with countless millions of dollars in fake clothing and footware imported and exported annually.

There are so many ships upon the open ocean that they raise the ocean’s water level, though not by a noticeable amount. While some fads generate new interest in particular products, mainstays like food and clothing remain the most commonly shipped goods.

For more information on shipping in the USA and Canada, visit Quick Transfer USA.

Most Shipped Goods In The United States

In December 2013, there was an estimated $130,850.4 million dollars worth of products exported into the United States and an estimated $180,059.9 million dollars worth of products imported into the country, according the the United States Census Bureau. Goods in the manufacturing category remain the highest number of products shipped followed by imported mining products and agricultural products.

The top 6 products shipped (in millions of dollars):

• Computers and Electronics – $354,725.3 annually (imported)
• Transportation Equipment – $331,630.8 annually (imported)
• Oil and Gas – $222,265.1 annually (imported)
• Chemicals – $206,539.3 annually (imported)
• Machinery, excluding electrical – $142,025.7 annually (imported)
• Petroleum and Coal – $124,317.3 annually (imported)

With the large amount of products being shipped on a daily basis, companies need to ensure the products reach their destination across the country. Quick Transfer USA offers reliable freight services throughout the United States and Canada for customers looking for the best rates and prompt carrier service whether products need to be shipped by truck, rail or intermodal methods.

Most Shipped Goods In The United States

In December 2013, there was an estimated $130,850.4 million dollars worth of products exported into the United States and an estimated $180,059.9 million dollars worth of products imported into the country, according the the United States Census Bureau. Goods in the manufacturing category remain the highest number of products shipped followed by imported mining products and agricultural products.

The top 6 products shipped (in millions of dollars):

• Computers and Electronics – $354,725.3 annually (imported)
• Transportation Equipment – $331,630.8 annually (imported)
• Oil and Gas – $222,265.1 annually (imported)
• Chemicals – $206,539.3 annually (imported)
• Machinery, excluding electrical – $142,025.7 annually (imported)
• Petroleum and Coal – $124,317.3 annually (imported)

With the large amount of products being shipped on a daily basis, companies need to ensure the products reach their destination across the country. Quick Transfer USA offers reliable freight services throughout the United States and Canada for customers looking for the best rates and prompt carrier service whether products need to be shipped by truck, rail or intermodal methods.

Most Shipped Goods In The United States

In December 2013, there was an estimated $130,850.4 million dollars worth of products exported into the United States and an estimated $180,059.9 million dollars worth of products imported into the country, according the the United States Census Bureau. Goods in the manufacturing category remain the highest number of products shipped followed by imported mining products and agricultural products.

The top 6 products shipped (in millions of dollars):

• Computers and Electronics – $354,725.3 annually (imported)
• Transportation Equipment – $331,630.8 annually (imported)
• Oil and Gas – $222,265.1 annually (imported)
• Chemicals – $206,539.3 annually (imported)
• Machinery, excluding electrical – $142,025.7 annually (imported)
• Petroleum and Coal – $124,317.3 annually (imported)

With the large amount of products being shipped on a daily basis, companies need to ensure the products reach their destination across the country. Quick Transfer USA offers reliable freight services throughout the United States and Canada for customers looking for the best rates and prompt carrier service whether products need to be shipped by truck, rail or intermodal methods.