New importers often plan a container of fasteners by volume. Fasteners do not work that way: steel is so dense that a container of bolts or nuts normally reaches its maximum payload while looking half empty. Plan by weight first, and the rest of the loading plan follows.
Payload comes before volume
A 20-foot container is the usual choice for fasteners because its payload suits dense cargo; a 40-foot container rarely makes sense for a full load of steel products, since the cargo would exceed road and port weight limits before filling the space. Your freight forwarder can confirm the exact payload and any destination road limits for your route.
Loose cartons or pallets
- Loose-loaded cartons use the space best and cost nothing in pallets, but unloading is manual and slower.
- Palletised loading costs some space and adds pallet cost, but the container can be unloaded by forklift, cartons stay cleaner, and counting at receiving is much faster.
If your warehouse has a forklift and values fast receiving, pallets are usually worth it. If you unload by hand anyway, loose loading keeps the freight cost per carton lower.
Mixed orders: marking is everything
Fastener orders often mix dozens of sizes that look similar. A workable system is simple: every carton is marked with the product, size, quantity and a running carton number, and the packing list maps carton numbers to items. Ask for photos of the cartons and the loaded container before the doors are closed — it is the cheapest inspection there is.
Before you book the container
- Confirm the total gross weight against the container payload and destination road limits.
- Decide loose loading or pallets, and the pallet type if your warehouse requires one.
- Agree on the carton marking format and the packing list layout.
- Ask for loading photos and the final packing list before shipment.
Send us your item list with quantities, and we will work out the packing, weight and loading plan with the quotation, so the freight decision is based on real numbers.