Load Securement News and Updates

Seasonal Shipping Challenges: How Dunnage Air Bags Protect Against Summer Heat and Humidity

7/9/2025

Summer is here, bringing with it not just sunshine and longer days, but also a unique set of challenges for the shipping and logistics industry. While the thought of warm weather might evoke images of smooth sailing, the reality for cargo can be quite different. Summer's defining characteristics – intense heat and pervasive humidity – capable of compromising load integrity, weakening packaging, and ultimately leading to costly product damage in transit.

At Superior Packaging Company, we understand that successful shipping demands solutions that perform year-round, adapting to every environmental variable. While our dunnage air bags are renowned for their ability to brace and stabilize loads against shifting and impact, their dynamic capabilities truly shine when combating the often-underestimated threats of summer heat and humidity.

The Unseen Enemies of Summer Transit: Heat and Humidity

To appreciate how dunnage air bags (and other Superior Packaging Company solutions) become summer superheroes, we first need to understand the specific ways heat and humidity can undermine cargo securement:

Thermal Expansion and Contraction:
- The Problem: Most materials, including goods, pallets, and even the structural components of trucks, railcars, and containers, expand when hot and contract when cold. During a long journey, especially one crossing different climates or experiencing day-night temperature swings, cargo can subtly expand and shrink.
- The Impact: This constant, subtle movement can loosen traditionally rigid bracing, create new voids where none existed at loading, and allow products to shift within their primary packaging.
Humidity and Moisture Absorption:
- The Problem: High humidity levels cause packaging materials like cardboard cartons and wooden pallets to absorb moisture. This significantly weakens their structural integrity.
- The Impact: Boxes can sag, lose their stacking strength, and become more prone to crushing or tearing. Pallets can warp. More dangerously, moisture can reduce friction between stacked items, making them prone to sliding, even with minimal movement. Condensation inside containers can further exacerbate these issues, leading to mold, corrosion, and product degradation.

These environmental factors create a dynamic and unpredictable environment within a shipping conveyance, actively working against static securement methods.

How Dunnage Air Bags Become Your Summer Superheroes

This is where the dynamic nature of Superior Packaging Company's dunnage air bags provides a unique advantage over rigid, static bracing:

Dynamic Void Fill & Constant Pressure: Unlike wood or foam blocking that creates fixed spaces, dunnage air bags fill voids with air. This allows them to subtly expand or contract with temperature fluctuations, maintaining consistent, resilient pressure against the load. As cargo slightly shifts or expands due to heat, the air bag adapts, continuing to fill the void tightly and absorb any movement, preventing slop.
Adaptive Cushioning: Heat can sometimes make certain materials more brittle or prone to deformation. The inherent cushioning of an inflated air bag becomes even more vital in these conditions, absorbing impacts and vibrations that might otherwise damage heat-stressed products.
Counteracting Reduced Friction from Humidity: While dunnage air bags don't dry out a container, their firm, expansive pressure is highly effective at preventing the macro-movement that can occur when humid conditions make carton surfaces slippery. By creating a unified, tightly braced block, the entire load moves as one, minimizing the internal sliding that causes damage.
Protection for Weakened Packaging: If humidity has compromised the strength of cardboard cartons, the dunnage bag's broad, even pressure helps distribute forces, preventing localized crushing and supporting the overall stability of the load.

Whether you're shipping heavy machinery or delicate consumer goods, our dunnage air bags are engineered to perform reliably through the most challenging summer conditions across all modes of transport.

Building a Comprehensive Summer Securement Strategy with Superior Packaging Company

While dunnage air bags are indispensable, Superior Packaging Company offers a full suite of products that, when used together, create a truly comprehensive securement strategy that excels in hot and humid conditions:

Anti-Slip Paper: This is your first line of defense against friction loss due to humidity. Placing anti-slip paper between layers of cartons or bags on a pallet dramatically increases static friction, preventing individual units from sliding, even if the primary packaging has absorbed some moisture. This is a simple, cost-effective layer of protection against internal load shift.
Rubber Pallet Bands: For unitizing individual pallets, particularly those with items that might slightly distort or sag in heat/humidity, our rubber pallet bands offer a fantastic solution. Unlike stretch wrap which can lose tension, these reusable, heavy-duty bands maintain consistent tension to keep palletized goods tightly contained, preventing bulging and shifting before the entire load is secured in the trailer or container. They are also unaffected by moisture.
Rubber Matting: For extremely heavy or specialized cargo placed directly on the floor of a conveyance, rubber matting can provide a non-slip base that is impervious to moisture. This adds an initial layer of stability and vibration dampening before other dunnage solutions are applied.

Your Summer Shipping, Secured
Summer shipping doesn't have to be a gamble. While the heat and humidity present unique challenges to cargo securement, understanding these threats and implementing the right protective packaging solutions can ensure your goods arrive as perfectly as they left.

At Superior Packaging Company, we provide not just products, but expertise. Our dunnage air bags, complemented by anti-slip paper, corrugated dunnage, rubber pallet bands, and rubber matting, form a robust defense against the most challenging seasonal conditions.

Don't let the summer sun melt away your profits with preventable damage. Partner with Superior Packaging Company to proactively protect your shipments and ensure a smooth, secure supply chain year-round. Contact us today to discuss your specific seasonal shipping challenges and discover the optimal securement strategy for your valuable cargo.

Secure Your Cargo Today!

Dunnage Bag Best Practices: A Step-by-Step Guide to Effective Cargo Securement

6/11/2025

When it comes to shipping and logistics, cargo securement should be a top priority. Whether you're transporting goods by truck, rail, or sea, the forces of motion – acceleration, braking, turning, and shifting during transit – can cause damage to your valuable products. Damage isn't just a nuisance; it leads to costly claims, dissatisfied customers, and a hit to your bottom line.

At Superior Packaging Company, we understand these challenges. For years, we've specialized in providing innovative and reliable solutions to ensure your shipments arrive intact. While we offer a comprehensive range of protective packaging, few tools are as versatile and effective for void fill and load stabilization as dunnage air bags.

But simply having dunnage air bags isn't enough. Proper selection, placement, and inflation are critical to their performance. This guide will walk you through the best practices for using dunnage air bags, and touch upon how other Superior Packaging Company products like corrugated dunnage, anti-slip paper, rubber pallet bands, and rubber matting can complement your securement strategy for ultimate cargo protection.

Step 1: Assess Your Load and Transportation Mode

Before grabbing a dunnage bag, a thorough assessment of your cargo and its journey is essential.

Cargo Type: What are you shipping? Is it rigid (pallets, crates, machinery), or does it have odd shapes or delicate components? What's its weight and density? This impacts the type and strength of dunnage needed.
Void Size: How much empty space exists between your cargo units or between the cargo and the container walls? Accurate measurement of these voids is crucial for selecting the correct dunnage bag size.
Transportation Mode:
- Truck (Over-the-Road): Truck shipments experience frequent acceleration, braking, and turning forces. Dunnage needs to fill voids tightly and prevent movement in all directions.
- Rail (Train): Rail shipments endure significant "slack action" – repetitive forward and backward jolting as railcars connect and decouple. This requires exceptionally robust and resilient void fill.
- Sea (Container): Ocean transit involves rolling, pitching, and yawing motions, plus potential container stack pressures. Cargo must be secured against movement in multiple planes.

At Superior Packaging Company, we offer a range of dunnage air-bags specifically designed for different modes of transport and various load types, from lightweight paper bags for truck freight to heavy-duty woven polypropylene bags for rail and intermodal containers.

Step 2: Select the Right Dunnage Bag Size and Type

Choosing the correct dunnage bag is fundamental. It's not a "one-size-fits-all" solution.

Bag Dimensions: The width of the dunnage bag should typically be 1-2 inches wider than the void it's filling when deflated, to ensure it properly conforms to the cargo and fills the space. The height of the bag should correspond to the height of the void.
Bag Material/Ply: Poly-woven - strong and durable, ideal for heavier loads, tighter voids, and the harsh demands of rail and ocean freight due to their puncture resistance and resilience.
Restraining Capacity (RC): Each dunnage bag has a rated Restraining Capacity (RC), indicating the maximum weight it can effectively stabilize. Match the RC to the weight of the load segment it will secure.
Valve Type: Most professional dunnage bags use specific inflation valves (e.g., rapid fill valves). Ensure your inflation tool is compatible.

At Superior Packaging Company we guide you through our extensive dunnage air-bag inventory, ensuring you select the perfect size and strength for your specific needs, whether it's a small void in a truck or a massive gap in a railcar.

Step 3: Proper Placement of Dunnage Bags

Effective placement is as crucial as correct selection.

Between Rigid Loads: Place dunnage bags directly between cargo units or between the cargo and the container walls. Ensure the bag covers as much of the void height as possible.
Protect Edges: When placing bags next to sharp edges of pallets, crates, or machinery, always use corrugated dunnage to prevent punctures. This adds a critical layer of protection.
Even Distribution: Distribute dunnage bags strategically throughout the load to create even pressure and prevent localized stress points. A single, perfectly inflated bag in one spot might not be enough if other areas of the load are still free to move.
Vertical Voids: For loads that might shift vertically or "bounce," consider using dunnage bags in conjunction with bracing or blocking to prevent upward movement.

Step 4: Mastering the Inflation Process

Inflation is where the dunnage bag truly comes to life.

Use the Right Tool: Always use a specialized dunnage bag inflator. This ensures rapid and controlled inflation. Superior Packaging Company offers durable, efficient portable air tools designed for this purpose.
Optimal Pressure: Inflate the bag until it is firm and rigid, completely filling the void, but do not overinflate. Over-inflation can damage the bag, stress the container walls, or even damage the cargo. The bag should create a tight, immovable block. You should not be able to easily push your hand into the gap between the cargo and the bag.
Monitor Cargo Stability: As you inflate, observe the cargo. The dunnage bag should gently push the load against the opposite wall or against other cargo, creating a secure block.

Check for Leaks: A quick visual and auditory check for leaks after inflation can prevent problems later.

Step 5: Complementary Securement Products
While dunnage air bags are phenomenal for void fill, a truly comprehensive securement strategy often involves other tools from Superior Packaging Company's arsenal:

Corrugated Dunnage: As mentioned, this is essential for protecting air bags from sharp edges and for adding rigid blocking where needed. It's also great for creating separation between layers or reinforcing weak spots.
Anti-Slip Paper: For stacked or palletized goods, placing anti-slip paper between layers of product or between the product and the pallet significantly increases friction. This prevents individual boxes or items from sliding during transit, even when the pallet itself is secured.
Rubber Pallet Bands: These heavy-duty, reusable rubber pallet bands are ideal for unitizing loads on pallets, preventing shifting and sagging of cartons, drums, or other items during internal handling or shorter-distance transport. They're quick to apply and remove, offering excellent load containment.
Rubber Matting: While primarily used for flooring in industrial settings, rubber matting can also serve as non-slip liners for truck beds or container floors for exceptionally heavy or sensitive items, preventing initial slippage before dunnage bags are inflated. It offers vibration dampening and enhanced grip under heavy loads.

Arrive Damage-Free, Every Time

Cargo damage is a preventable cost. By implementing these dunnage bag best practices – from careful assessment and selection to proper placement and inflation – and by integrating complementary solutions from Superior Packaging Company, you can dramatically improve the integrity of your shipments.

We pride ourselves on offering not just products, but solutions that protect your valuable goods and your bottom line. Partner with Superior Packaging Company to ensure your next shipment arrives securely and safely, every time. Contact us today to discuss your specific cargo securement needs and find the perfect combination of products for your operations!

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Seasonal Shipping Challenges: How Dunnage Air Bags Protect Against Summer Heat and Humidity

Dunnage Bag Best Practices: A Step-by-Step Guide to Effective Cargo Securement

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OUR LATEST NEWS

Seasonal Shipping Challenges: How Dunnage Air Bags Protect Against Summer Heat and Humidity

Dunnage Bag Best Practices: A Step-by-Step Guide to Effective Cargo Securement

Recent News

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