Whether you are a typical eCommerce store, or a manufacturing plant dealing with multiple retailers, you might have dealt with OOG at some point. If you have, you already know that while it is not that simple, you only require the right equipment and skill to navigate the process.
That said, let us first understand OOG meaning in shipping, the things you must keep in mind when dealing with these shipments, and the challenges associated with it.
What is Out of Gauge Cargo (OOG)?
Most bulk cargo that shippers deal with can be transported in six-sided shipping containers you normally see in ports and warehouse facilities. These containers are either 20 or 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8.6 feet tall. However, certain shipments and cargo require containers with special or larger dimensions, also known as OOG (Out of Gauge) Cargo.
Since loading/unloading or transporting OOG cargo requires you to deploy a special process, you must apply for several permits and even go through extensive documentation. Considering this extensive process, you should first determine if your cargo is OOG by measuring it against the dimensions of a standard cargo.
Some common examples of OOG cargo include: Trailers, Boats, Steel Coils, Pipes, Wind Turbine Poles or Blades, Machinery and parts, Aircraft components and parts, among others.
3 Things to Keep in Mind When Dealing With OOG Cargo
There are multiple parameters to consider and keep in mind when dealing with OOG cargo. Since it brings in a lot of challenges for the freight forwarders, you must conduct a thorough analysis of all the shipping features required for OOG transport. Let us look at the most important parameters and steps to consider.
1. Creating a Comprehensive Scope of Work
Before embarking on any project, creating a scope of work helps all the stakeholders to be on the same page. That said, you must ensure that your Scope of Work (SoW) includes all the necessary sections and details such as origin, destination, timeline, and any conditions associated with the transportation of the cargo.
The more detailed you make your Scope of Work, the less chances there are for any errors. To ensure this, you can add more details such as cargo sensitivity, site access, and destination parties specified in your SoW. Aside from these details, you need to add primary details, such as:
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Technical Diagrams: When dealing with special cargo, you may need to include highly technical diagrams designed by engineers to provide details about the cargo. Diagrams will help you communicate cargo dimensions, lifting points, and center of gravity more accurately, helping you pick the right equipment and be used by personnel for cargo handling.
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Timelines: If there are any specific dates associated with the readiness of your OOG shipment or product delivery, they must be included in the Scope of Work. When done in advance, all the necessary resources can review the timelines and take prompt and necessary actions.
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Custom OOG Framework: When creating a detailed Scope of Work, you must include a bespoke framework for handling your OOG logistics by considering the unique requirements of your project. The more complex your cargo specifications and requirements, the more details your SoW should have. In the end, it should contain all the operational inputs required by all the stakeholders of the process.
Provide Scope of Work to the necessary personnel, namely as project cargo specialists. These individuals can start operational planning based on the SoW, and the aforementioned timeline and technical diagrams.
2. Defining the Operational Activities
When handling your OOG cargo, you must carry out some crucial operational activities such as:
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Transportation: Once you have a clear understanding of the origin site, you can arrange for transportation accordingly. The technical diagrams in your SoW and site requirements will help you understand how to load and handle OOG transport.
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Terminal Facilities & Handovers: The ports used for transportation of goods, generally handle a lot of cargo volume every day handled by highly experienced and knowledgeable professionals. Ensure appropriate communication with your technical team to avoid any issues.
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Cargo Surveys: You must conduct third-party surveys when your cargo is at the origin site or the start of the terminus. The report generated from these surveys will contain more details about the conditions of the cargo. Any damage to the shipment must be clarified in the survey report, and appropriate action must be taken.
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Origin Facility Capacity: When picking OOG shipping from an origin site, you might need to arrange for special equipment and a certain amount of space for handling. With that in mind, all the stakeholders must understand the origin site capacity accurately and should have the necessary features and facilities.
3. Alternate Shipping Arrangements
When you are associating with a shipping company that has expertise in dealing with OOG cargo, you need to provide the exact dimensions of your cargo so that they can make arrangements accordingly. As discussed just now, OOG trucking and transport may require you to come up with a tailored solution for each shipment.
Here are some of the alternate shipping arrangements that you and your service provider might have to consider:
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Containers with an open top with removable or no roofs
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Flat rack containers having collapsible ends or no sides
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Traditional containers modified to have an opening or a hole to accommodate the oddly shaped cargo
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Trailers and Flatbeds
You will also require the right arrangement for loading and unloading OOG cargo including usage of chartered airplanes or shipping vessels, based on your mode of transportation.
4. Challenges of OOG Cargo Shipping
Now that we have learned about the primary considerations to keep in mind when dealing with OOG cargo shipping, here are some of the challenges associated with the method:
1. Finding the Right Carrier
As you may have gathered by now, OOG shipments require more special care than the usual shipping processes. Not all shipping companies can handle this. To accommodate the oversized shipments for which you’ll opt for OOG shipping, the shipping company needs to have the necessary expertise, experience, and equipment to handle the cargo.
2. Obtaining Necessary Permits
Not having a conventional cargo load to ship means having to jump more hoops than usual and deal with more paperwork. Ensure that your OOG cargo shipping happens seamlessly, by securing the necessary permits. This process is always more time-consuming and extensive, making the shipping process all the more complicated. Your OOG network and cargo shipping process may also depend on the region and specific regulations.
3. Ensuring the Safety of the Cargo
OOG cargo shipping raises unique challenges and safety risks for shippers. During the loading, unloading, and transportation of the OOG cargo, you must ensure you choose a qualified carrier who can guarantee the safety and condition of your cargo. Double-check that the OOG company you pick strictly adheres to load requirements and has a rigid safety policy document in place.
4. Loading and Handling Complications
In most cases, the usual equipment you choose for shipping regular cargo will not work for OOG in shipping. You must ensure that the chosen shipping carrier has all the necessary and specialized equipment, especially when loading and unloading cargo. As a result, the entire shipping process becomes more complex and in some cases, expensive.
4 Things to Consider When Choosing an OOG Cargo Shipping Company
Since the OOG cargo shipping process is complicated, it only makes sense that you partner up with an adept and experienced company to handle this part of your shipping operations. That said, many companies claim to have the required expertise but do not measure up to the standards.
With that in mind, here are some factors to consider when you are partnering up with a shipping company for your OOG cargo:
1. Staff Experience
Depending on the size of your OOG cargo operations, you want to evaluate if the chosen freight forwarder has the necessary experience handling that volume. You must also evaluate if the staff in that company has sufficient experience dealing with simple and complex leads with equal ease.
When you determine that their staff has enough expertise in the area, you can ensure they handle domestic and international shipments with the same amount of skill.
2. Quality of Health & Safety Protocols
You may be dealing with different kinds of OOG cargo, but you should never take the health and safety protocols for granted. Even when outsourcing this part of your transport operations to an experienced service provider, you must ensure that they follow the necessary and most recent safety and health protocols. You can also rest easy knowing that your shipment is in safe hands throughout the shipment process.
3. Availability of Equipment and Vehicles
Since OOG cargo operations require specialised transport vehicles and equipment to handle your shipment’s unique dimensions seamlessly, double-check this with the 3PL service provider. Hence, you must inquire about the different types of vehicles and cranes the company uses for transportation.
4. Access to Additional Support
When partnering with an OOG cargo service provider, you must ensure that they offer additional support services such as a full load analysis and industrial packing. Ensure that they have the necessary mechanisms and policies in place for minimal disruption in the transport process.
Concluding Remarks
OOG Cargo shipping may sound complicated in theory but is just a simple case of transporting cargo with unique dimensions and sizes. However, you must have proper guidelines and equipment to ensure the cargo is shipped appropriately. Additionally, you must consider creating a special SoW, defining the operational requirements, and making the necessary arrangements. Consider partnering with an experienced service provider to avoid the extra hassle and expenses of dealing with OOG cargo.
Get a quote from the PACK & SEND website to discuss your cargo requirements and partner with an experienced logistics service provider.