Step 1: Checking of transport to verify if it is road-worthy

Transport Arrives At The Insured’s Warehouse

• Transports should be parked under a shed and all other activities such as loading, unloading etc are to be carried out under the
• Check driver’s license, insurance papers, certificates showing load carrying capacity of the vehicle & other documents in order to avoid unnecessary detentions by traffic police and others.
• Note down the registration number & transporter name Number of tarpaulins present.

• Bed of the transport whether even or uneven, if uneven then a 6-8 mm thick plywood is required to be to avoid uneven loadCondition of tarpaulins (intact or presence of holes) (video should show how an ideal tarpaulin look like i.e. without holes)
• Any protrusions such as bolts, stiffeners, nails etc inside the transport are to be checked.

• If it is a containerized vehicle then checks should be carried out to find holes which could lead to ingress of water. Light test, chalk test impression method are to be carried out to identify the holes and same are to be filled either by welding or by epoxy.

Step 2: Stacking & securing of cargo inside transports

• Cargos should be shrink-wrapped with Polyliners, especially during the rainy season, multiple cargos can be wrapped together.
• One layer of tarpaulin is to be placed on the plywood which should extend to the level of 2-3 boxes at the sides

• Cargos are to be loaded such that a convex upward shape should be achieved at the completion of stacking cargos. At least 3 layers of intact tarpaulin are to be used for covering with the thickest on top followed by thinner ones.
• Empty spaces are to be filled with dunnage and flat top formation is to be strictly avoided.

• Ropes are to be tied properly in order to prevent tarpaulin from getting dislodged due to high winds
• All high-value consignments should be sent in containerized vehicles.
• At the time of dispatch if there is heavy rainfall going on, drivers should wait out until the rain subsides.
• During rainy season cargos should not be stacked in basements; high-rise racks or platforms are to be used for stacking.

Step 3: Precautions to be taken during transit

• As much as possible vehicles are to be under shed, in case of break down or drivers getting off for lunch/dinner to ensure vehicles are not parked in any low lying regions, close to drains or areas where water logging can take place due to heavy rain.
• Driving should be avoided during heavy rain as much as possible and vehicles should be parked under sheds, drivers have to be extra cautious during heavy rains to avoid accidents.
• Lashing wire ropes, position of tarpaulin are to be checked frequently during transit in order to tighten or reposition the tarpaulin if required.

• Goods are sometimes transshipped to other vehicles at the time of crossing states, drivers are to ensure vehicles are parked properly to prevent rain damage and drivers should wait for rainfall to stop before initiating transshipment.
• During the last leg of transit, hand carts are not to be used instead small tempos (closed) are to be used.

Step 4: Unloading

• Transports are to be unloaded/ emptied as soon as possible without making them wait outside the consignee’s premises. (sometimes it is noticed that if vehicles arrive at the consignee’s premises after their working hours then the same is made to wait till morning)
• Unloading activities should be carried out under the sheds.
• Goods are always to be kept on pallets or raised platforms to avoid losses due to water Accumulation
• Goods are not to be loaded in low lying areas or basements.

Step 5: Precautions & steps to be followed to reduce losses

• During transit if driver finds out rain water has gone in, he has to immediately inform the insured/ insurer.
• Wet goods have to be segregated from dry goods immediately. iii. Wet goods are to be kept in dry areas. iv. Packing of affected goods to be removed in order to avoid rusting/ aggravation of losses.
• The driver to drive with caution , if he feels that low lying branches or obstructions have hit and damaged the overhead tarpaulin , he should stop the vehicle inspect and if required put one more tarpaulin to make sure that water ingress does not occur.