SHIPMENT PLANNING GUIDE
Industrial machinery shipping: information to prepare before a quote
Provide technical cargo data before choosing a route. Machinery dimensions, lifting instructions, and handling limitations can affect packing, equipment selection, and the feasibility of the move.
Identify the shipment precisely
Provide the equipment description, quantity, condition, intended destination, and available product documentation. State whether weights and dimensions are measured or estimated. Separate the machine’s dimensions from the proposed export package dimensions.
Get manufacturer handling instructions
Request gross weight, center-of-gravity information where available, approved lifting points, and handling restrictions. A photograph cannot establish lifting capacity. Lifting and securing plans should be checked by the relevant qualified operators.
Disclose special characteristics
Tell the forwarder about batteries, fuels, oils, pressure vessels, chemicals, or other features that may affect acceptance. Do not assume equipment is ordinary general cargo simply because it is packed in a crate. Classification and transport acceptance require cargo-specific review.
Plan collection and delivery access
Supply site access constraints, opening dimensions, loading arrangements, and available handling equipment at both ends. Identify who supplies cranes or forklifts. Confirm the packed weight after crating and before final equipment booking.
Approve scope before movement
Ask for a written allocation of packing, lifting, documentation, transport, and delivery responsibilities. Record the agreed milestones and escalation contact. Transit estimates should be confirmed for the actual route and departure rather than taken from a generic website figure.