Patent Application
20160009508
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for reducing freight shipping costs when shipping prices are based on dimensional weight. The invention has applications in air, land and sea freight. In one embodiment of the invention, the novel telescoping box system is used with pallets of a specific sizes to further reduce waste and cost in the shipping process.
In the freight forwarding business, domestic and international shippers will often base delivery rates not only on the weight of a package but also on its dimensional volume which taken together are sometimes referred to as “dimensional weight.” The determination of dimensional weight to calculate shipping cost has become necessary as the cost of transportation has gone up. Not only is the weight of a package a factor in cost but also the space or volume that that package occupies. Consideration of dimensional volume is especially critical in air cargo shipping where cargo space is especially limited and where weight determination alone would be an inadequate basis for calculating the value of the space taken up by a package. Dimensional volume consideration is also important in surface transportation such as truck or train service where cubicle space is limited.
The concept of dimensional weight has been adopted by the transportation industry worldwide as a uniform means of establishing a minimum charge for the cubic space a package occupies. Dimensional weight is a calculation of a theoretical weight of a package. This theoretical weight is the weight of the package at a minimum density chosen by the freight carrier. If the package is below this minimum density, then the actual weight is irrelevant as the freight carrier will charge for the volume of the package as if it were of the chosen density (what the package would weigh at the minimum density). Furthermore, the volume used to calculate the dimensional weight may not be absolutely representative of the true volume of the package. The freight carrier will measure the longest dimension in each of the three axis (X, Y, Z) and use these measurements to determine the package volume. If the package is a right-angled rectangular cuboid (box), then this will be equal to the true volume of the package. However, if the package is of any other shape, then the calculation of volume will be more than the true volume of the package.
Dimensional weight is also known as DIM weight, volumetric weight, cubed weight, etc. Freight carriers utilize the greater of the actual weight or dimensional weight to calculate shipping charges. Dimensional weight is calculated as (Length×Width×Height)/(Dimensional Factor). Measurements can be made all in inches or all in centimeters, but the appropriate shipping factor must also be used.
Shipping factors for imperial measurements represent cubic inches per pound (in3/lb) while metric factors represent cubic centimeters per kilogram (cm3/kg). These are the inverse of the package density. Dimensional weight is applied when the actual product density is less than the minimum density represented by the chosen factor. Dimensional weight is representative of the weight of the package at the minimum density accepted by the freight carrier. Shipping factors are not only different for imperial and metric measurements, but also for shipment mode and in some cases between different customers.
Furthermore, containerization for transport has spurred the use of pallets because the shipping containers have the smooth, level surfaces needed for easy pallet movement. Most pallets can easily carry a load a 1,000 kg (2,205 lb). Today, over half a billion pallets are made each year and about two billion pallets are in use across the United States alone.
Pallets make it easier to move heavy stacks. Loads with pallets under them can be hauled by forklift trucks of different sizes, or even by hand-pumped and hand-drawn pallet jacks. Movement is easy on a wide, strong, flat floor.
The lack of a single international standard for pallets causes substantial continuing expense. The following table illustrates the various dimensions of pallets in common use:
This invention relates to using a novel system of telescoping boxes to reduce the inefficiencies of dimensional weight and the disproportionate cost of shipping lighter packages when shipping prices are based on dimensional weight. The invention has applications in air, land and sea freight. In one embodiment of the invention, the novel telescoping box system is used with pallets of a specific sizes to further reduce waste and cost in the shipping process. The scoping boxes are used in a variety of loading combinations. The loading combinations are suited to the pallet and shipping container. Through use of the disclosed methods and system, shipping costs may be significantly reduced.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description provides details with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
Referring to
While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/971,852.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61971852 | Mar 2014 | US |
