Shipping Barrels: The Complete Guide

What Are They and Why Are They Important?

Shipping Barrels, commonly used in the Caribbean and other American countries, have been a traditional way of transporting goods. However, it has become a popular way to transport goods due to the safety of the shipped goods. Furthermore, shipping barrels can transport many different goods domestically or globally.

Shipping Barrels: How Does It Work?

Shipping barrels will be loaded with cargo and then transported around the globe after being placed on a ship. It is a cost-effective way of transporting goods worldwide and has thrived as a mode of exportation in Caribbean culture for generations.

The most common goods that shipping barrels transport is canned foods, clothing, shoes, perfumes, seeds, alcohol, tobacco, and many more. Barrels come in different shapes and sizes, so customers are not limited to the number of goods that shipping barrels can transport in one trip. Accordingly, different shipment sizes will need particular shipping barrel sizes.

Usually, customers use barrels when they have a large number of goods needing to be shipped that are small in size, so using shipping barrels is the most cost-effective way of doing so as you spend less money on shipment.

Furthermore, containers are easy to load and unload, and they are water resistant. Thus, shipping barrels make this shipment method much more attractive to customers and organizations specializing in shipping barrels.

Types of Shipping Barrels Include:

Plastic Shipping Barrels:

Using plastic shipping barrels is the cheapest way to transport goods and is lighter than other types of barrels. However, plastic shipping barrels may not be suitable for all materials or goods.

Steel Shipping Barrels:

These are the most preferred shipping barrel types as they are more reliable than plastic shipping barrels. However, the cost of using steel shipping barrels is higher.

Fiberboard Shipping Tubes:

These are convenient and cost-effective ways to transport goods around the globe. It is beneficial for transporting dry goods.

Two Factors Determining the Types of Shipping Barrels to Use:

1. Types of Goods:

Take into consideration the types of goods that you need to transport. For example, if you need to transport delicate and fragile goods, then using a shipping barrel that is robust and damage-proof would be a wise option. What is important to note is that if you need to transport fragile goods, then your budget will need to be more significant as you will need to guarantee the safety of your goods.

2. Budget:

Your available budget will determine the shipping barrel used for transporting goods. For example, plastic shipping barrels are a good option if you have a low budget. On the other hand, if your budget is more significant, you can utilize a more expensive shipping barrel to transport your goods.

Packing Shipping Barrels Properly:

The process implemented when transporting goods is essential and needs to guarantee the goods' safety and the transportation's smooth running.

Type of Shipping Barrel to Be Used:

Firstly, before purchasing your shipping barrel, you must determine which type of barrel would be best for the kind of goods you want to ship. For example, if you send hazardous materials, the best type of shipping barrel would be steel.

Type of Goods Determined:

Secondly, the type of goods will determine the type of packaging needed. For example, you may need to spend more time packing fragile goods than you would be packing clothes. Furthermore, guarantee to fill the shipping barrels so they don't move around freely. One way to combat this is to use paper or nylon to put in between each shipping barrel in the box.

Pack Goods Smartly:

Also, each delicate item must be wrapped appropriately and attached to the packing tape. Safe packaging will prevent shipping barrels from moving around too much. It would be best if you packed the shipping barrels so that the heavier goods are at the bottom and the more fragile and lighter goods are at the top of the shipping barrel. When transporting food around the globe, guarantee to keep the food that may leak at the bottom of the barrel and the food that is dry at the top. Keeping liquid-type foods at the bottom of the shipping barrel will reduce the chance of the dry food becoming damaged, wasting less money.

Label Shipping Barrel:

One last thing to do before sealing the shipping barrel is to label it with a piece of paper. Doing so will guarantee that your cargo does not get lost or tampered with.

What Are the Benefits Of Shipping Barrels?

There are many various benefits of shipping barrels as a means to transport goods. However, there is a reason that shipping barrels are a popular method of transporting goods.

Benefits include:

• Shipping barrels is a cost-effective way of transporting goods.
• Shipping barrels vary in size for various goods.
• You can fill to the brim, saving time and cost on the number of shipping barrels used.
• Shipping barrels are suitable for various materials, including solvents and lubricants.
• You can reuse shipping barrels and purchase already-used shipping barrels to transport your goods.
• Shipping barrels are better for the environment as you won't need to purchase as many shipping materials in the future. You will be saving money on fuel and electricity that way.
• Shipping barrels are great for long-term use and are perfect for storage as they do not degrade.
• Shipping barrels are robust and durable, meaning that you can rely on the fact that your goods will be safe during transport.

So, as you can tell, there are many advantages to using shipping barrels to transport your goods around the globe. Although shipping barrels derive from Caribbean cultures, it is a mode of shipment used worldwide.

What to Keep In Mind When Shipping Barrels:

Using shipping barrels to transport your goods is a great way to get cargo from one place in the world to another, and it seems pretty easy to do so, but like any other method of exportation, one needs to consider a few things.

Type of Shipping Barrel:

As mentioned above, the type of goods you want to transport will determine the shipping barrels used. For example, if you need to transport hazardous liquids that are corrosive in nature, then using plastic shipping barrels is best.

Guarantee the Correct Paperwork For Your Shipping Barrels:

As per any other form of shipping of goods, you must fill out paperwork. Paperwork guarantee that rules and regulations are adhered to when using shipping barrels to transport goods. Ensuring your paperwork is completed correctly is especially important when transporting hazmat goods as the paperwork will be more complicated to make sure the safety of those loading and unloading the cargo.

Temperature Control For Your Shipping Barrels:

If you are using shipping barrels to transport goods that need to either be above or below a specific temperature, you may benefit from using a shipping company that can do this for you.

Triple Check Sealing Systems On Your Shipping Barrels:

One of the most critical steps when shipping barrels is to make sure they are properly sealed and locked. The last thing you want is a shipping barrel to fall over and your goods to fall out.

Guarantee to Secure Shipping Barrels:

Once you have loaded all of your shipping barrels, you need to make sure that you have correctly sealed them so that they need to make sure they are secure when transported. Securing shipping barrels properly needs to be done safely for your shipping barrels and the employees who load and unload your shipping barrels.

Shipping barrels are a great way to transport goods both globally and domestically. The idea of using shipping barrels to transport goods originally derives from the Caribbean culture. While working overseas, people used to send groceries and clothes to their loved ones back in Jamaica. So sending goods via shipping barrels is a longstanding tradition, and if you have ever been to Jamaica, you will realize how popular it is as a tradition. But shipping barrels are also now used worldwide to transport goods, which is an effective way to transport those goods without a big container.