Step 1: Inspect the container before loading begins
Start with a daylight inspection of the empty box. Check the floor for soft spots, delamination and standing water, then run a light along the walls and ceiling to catch punctures, rust perforations and loose lining. Confirm the door gaskets compress fully and that the locking bars engage without force. Record the container number, seal number and inspection photos before the first pallet moves; a ten-minute check here prevents the majority of transit claims later.
Common mistake: accepting a container because it "looks dry." Moisture hides under the floorboards and in the roof lining, and shows up as mould on upholstery three weeks into the voyage.
Step 2: Control moisture before the first carton goes in
Furniture failures in transit are usually humidity failures. Wooden frames, MDF panels and fabric cushions all absorb moisture from warm, humid air and release it when the container cools at sea. Measure the internal humidity with a hygrometer, and load desiccant bags at a rate matched to cargo volume and voyage length rather than a fixed number per container. Line the floor with absorbent matting when the cargo includes fabric or leather, and never load cartons that have been stored in the rain or left on a damp warehouse floor.
Common mistake: opening desiccant bags in advance and letting them saturate before the doors close.
Step 3: Load in a sequence that protects the weakest pieces
Load heavy, rigid items such as cabinet bases, dining tables and metal frames first and low, spreading weight evenly across the container floor. Place cartons and boxed components on top, and keep upholstered pieces away from the walls where condensation forms. Keep the centre of gravity low and centred, and reserve the last metre of the container for the pieces you will need to reach first at destination. Follow the loading plan agreed with the factory rather than improvising at the dock.
Common mistake: loading a full-height wardrobe against the container door, which makes the whole load unstable the moment the doors open.
Step 4: Brace and strap every void
Any gap left in the load becomes movement once the vessel starts to roll. Fill empty space with airbags, timber dunnage or modular void fillers, and strap tall pieces to the container's lashing rings with rated webbing. Use corner protectors under every strap so the tension does not crush veneer or leave pressure marks. Push-test the finished load: nothing should shift more than a few centimetres when you lean your weight against it. Photo-document the bracing configuration before closing the doors.
Common mistake: relying on cartons alone to fill the last row, when cardboard compresses under sustained vibration.
Step 5: Verify the seal and hand over complete documentation
Close the doors, confirm both locking bars are fully seated and apply the seal in the presence of the driver or forwarder. Write the seal number on the bill of lading and photograph the sealed doors together with the container number. Send the loading report, bracing photos and humidity readings to the buyer the same day, so any discussion about condition starts from a shared record rather than an assumption.
Common mistake: sealing the container before the final photo set is taken, leaving no evidence of how the load was braced.
