Best practices in packing cargo, correctly restraining loads, and safely transporting shipping containers will be the focus of a series of eight safe container loading seminars across Australia in October and November.
Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) hosted the safe container loading seminars in collaboration with Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA), and safety management firm CoR secure.
Not just that, transport practices and safe container loading seminars will aim to promote safety and efficiency in shipping logistics.
HVSI and NHVR Support Safe Container Loading Seminars
The Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI) supported the series of safe container loading seminars. Moreover, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) administered the forum on behalf of the Australian Government.
Container Load Imbalance and Safety Risks
Data from National Transport Insurance (NTI) shows that container-laden heavy vehicles are 36% more likely to experience a truck rollover compared to those carrying general freight.
A leading cause of these accidents is vehicle instability due to unbalanced or inadequately restrained loads within shipping containers.
In many cases, heavy vehicle drivers are unaware of how the shipping container has been packed or if the cargo has been properly secured.
Load shifts inside containers, unbalanced loads, and high centres of gravity all contribute to potential accidents, posing risks not only to road transport but also to rail, terminal operations, and sea freight.
Misdeclared container weights also pose a significant risk in the logistics chain. Cargo owners and container packers may innocently or deliberately misdeclare container weights, leading to overloaded containers.
These can result in serious safety hazards and now carry significant penalties if identified.
Promoting Safe Practices and Key Resources at Seminars
CTAA Director Neil Chambers emphasized that the safe container loading seminars aim to encourage best practices in both connex packing and cargo restraint, highlighting safety and commercial benefits.
“We’ll also raise awareness of available best practice resources,” Mr. Chambers stated.
One key resource to be presented at forum is the Safe Container Loading & Transport Guide, published by CoRsafe in partnership with CTAA.
This guide provides a clear explanation of legal and practical obligations for stakeholders in the container logistics chain, including overseas suppliers and container packers, using straightforward language accessible to frontline staff.
Promoting Guide Distribution Across Supply Chains
Chambers encouraged Australian businesses to share the guide with their overseas partners to ensure proper standards are met when loading containers bound for Australia.
Similarly, we urge Australian exporters to distribute the guide to their supply chain partners to promote best practices. So, the full guide is available for download at logss.com.au/container-guide.
Seminar attendees will also gain access to a condensed version of the guide, along with a simplified Chinese version for overseas distribution.
Expert Speakers and Panelists at the Seminar
- NHVR and WorkSafe regulatory representatives
- Container terminal representatives on container gross mass (VGM) mis-declarations and container check weighing
- Chain of Responsibility (CoR) experts
- Marine insurance specialists
- Cargo restraint experts
- Biosecurity and container cleanliness experts
- Road transport and telematics experts discussing on-board mass (OBM) technology
- Experts on container reuse and exchange practices
Dates and Locations of Safe Container Loading Seminars:
- BRISBANE: Wednesday, October 16, 2024
- TOOWOOMBA: Thursday, October 17, 2024
- SYDNEY: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
- MELBOURNE: Tuesday, October 29, 2024
- SHEPPARTON: Thursday, October 31, 2024
- WAGGA WAGGA: Friday, November 1, 2024
- PORT ADELAIDE: Tuesday, November 19, 2024
- FREMANTLE: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Ultimately, these safe container loading seminars present a unique opportunity for industry professionals. Therefore, this summit will gain valuable insights into secure connex handling, improve their practices, and network with experts across the logistics sector.
