Cargo warehousing is strengthened by Cargo handling which involves managing the logistics and storage levels of goods in warehouses, distribution centers etc. Most of the cargo trades are containerized that are handled by forklifts and cranes

“Cargo Services Group of Companies”  is the largest player in the cargo industry established in the UK. This business specializes in handling and distributing bulk cargo through freight.

You might be aware about the term storage which is easy to comprehend. However, cargo handling is a difficult concept which involves a large set of activities starting from loading, unloading, sorting, assortment, and warehousing.

What is Cargo Storage and Handling?

Cargo Storage means to store the products at warehouses. Storage helps in providing continuous supply of goods to the market based on the demand for the goods. Cargo Storage must maintain the quality and quantity of the goods stored at the warehouses. Cargo Handling involves the transportation activities in logistics centers. It includes all the tasks such as loading, unloading, picking, warehousing, sorting and transportation. Any inefficiencies in cargo handling will eventually increase the logistics costs.

Cargo Storage and Handling

Let us learn more about the tasks that are involved in Cargo Storage and Handling.

What are the tasks involved in Cargo Storage and Handling?

1. Receiving Inspection

The raw materials or goods that are received as cargo are accepted, inspected, warehoused and distributed. The process of inspection involves-
Verification against the receiving cargo list based on the quantity, quantity and the product requirements. Acceptance inspection may also be done to confirm the goods.
After that goods are inspected and accepted, they are stored, and packaging is performed. All the data about the goods received and stored are recorded in a ledger in the Warehousing and inspection data management.

2. Material handling

Material handling involves the use of machines to perform the cargo handling tasks efficiently. Machines make it easier to move and handle heavy cargo. Machines such as forklifts, carts, conveyors, pallets, automated warehouses, and industrial robots are used.

3. Inventory management

It involves managing all the data information about the inventory in the warehouses. It involves checking the types, quality, and numbers of the products in the inventory. The number of items in the inventory are counted along with the calculation of the value of inventory to analyze the profits earned and make accurate decisions. To make faster decisions is it important that inventory management be performed in real-time.

4. Picking

Picking refers to the gathering of products to ship by checking all the quantities and item numbers mentioned on the shipping instruction form.The 2 picking methods are single picking method and total picking method. In a single picking method, the products are picked individually for every shipping location. In the total picking method, items are picked in advance and are later sorted by the shipping location.
There are various picking systems that are used for different purposes.
Digital Picking System (DPS)This is an automated method for picking where digital displays are located on the racks in which the cargo is stored. This method eliminates errors and makes it easier for workers to perform the task.
List Packing In this method the items are picked based on the shipping instruction form. The workers must work accurately without making any mistakes.
RFID Tags
In this method, RFID tags are attached to the product racks. Through these tags information can be exchanged over wireless networks.
Barcodes
The shipping instructions are turned into barcodes. With the help of a barcode scanner right products to be picked can be identified.

5. Sorting

Sorting refers to the separation of products based on their shipping destination and type.There are 2 methods of sorting, which are manual sorting and automated sorting. In the case of manual sorting, the worker performs the sorting process. Whereas in automated sorting, a sorter machine is used for the sorting process. There are 3 types of sorting based on location from where the cargo is brought into the warehouse:
Pass-Through Type (Transfer Center) – In this type of sorting, there is no inventory that is held at the logistics center and only the received products are sorted.
Inventory Type (Distribution Center) – In this type of sorting, the warehouse holds the
inventory and sorts the goods.
Distribution processing and inventory Type (Processing Distribution Center) – This is a
type of sorting where already manufactured items are brought in the logistics center from the
factory to sort the goods.

6. Shipping Inspection

Last step is the inspection of the content of the shipment. Before shipping the items, the contents are inspected to find if there are any mistakes when shipped.
The following steps are followed for shipping inspection-

• Creating a picking list – Picking list is created to get all the contents of the order, based
  on which the workers pick the goods.
• Processing the Distribution – At this stage the goods are inspected to analyze errors or
  problems in the goods before they are packaged and sent for shipping.
• Data recording – During the picking and shipping inspection, the data is recorded and
  stored.

These are the tasks that are performed for an effective cargo storage and handling by the
warehousing and logistics firms.