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Dimensioning Key Facts
From small businesses to large logistics operations, dimensioning is a necessity to properly ship packages and avoid costly chargebacks.
The Importance of Dimensional Weight
Most companies that ship products, regardless of size, routinely use large shipping carriers, such as FedEx®, UPS® and DHL®. To accurately reflect billable weight, carriers determine shipment pricing based on either dimensional weight or actual weight—whichever is greater.
Dimensional weight shows the package’s density, which is the amount of space the package utilizes in relation to its weight. To determine dim weight, a package’s length, width and height are multiplied, resulting in its cubic size, and then divided by 166 for domestic or 139 for international shipments.
When small items are shipped in large packages, carriers can charge for dimensional weights. To minimize costs, shippers need to properly size packaging, which means measuring dimensional weight. Companies that ship packages without properly calculating dim weight could face chargebacks for miscalculated dimensions or freight compliance issues.
Automated Dimensioning and Weighing Systems
Measuring dimensions manually is more time-consuming than obtaining the package’s weight with a conventional shipping or postal scale. It’s also more error-prone for irregularly shaped packages. Instead of risking manual measurements, automatic dimensioners remove the guesswork. Dimensioning technology provides shippers with solutions to efficiently and accurately obtain package dimensions for shipments.
Dimensioning systems use sensing and imaging technology to calculate dimensional weight. Although dimensioning systems differ in performance and technology, they provide valuable solutions to ensure companies optimize shipping with accurate package dimensions.
Dimensioning Tips
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Do extensive research. Speak with carriers to determine their dim weight policies. Knowing the shipping requirements now can help deter compliance fees in the future. |
Pick quality packaging materials for strength, durability and reducing empty space when determining |
For operations that ship a wide variety of packages, closely research the maximum package height and widths that a dimensioning system can measure. |
Consider maintenance and support when purchasing a dimensioning system. Ensure a manufacturer provides the needed support. |
The Best Reasons to Use a Dimensioner
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Dimensioners help document total monthly shipping charges to ensure you aren’t receiving chargebacks for improper calculations. |
Dimensioners reliably measure irregularly shaped packages. Poly bags, tubes and irregular shapes need cubic measurements to determine dim weight. |
Streamline your system. Utilizing dimensioning systems can maximize your process flow and limit the amount of time spent measuring dim weight. |
Certain dimensioning systems can integrate scales to provide package dimensions and weight simultaneously. Combining steps into one task simplifies operations. |
Rice Lake Weighing Systems Dimensioning Systems
Rice Lake’s iDimension® Series offers dimensioning systems for pallet and parcel shipping. Gather accurate results in under two seconds with unbeatable accuracy. With Rice Lake’s dimensioners, shippers can avoid chargebacks and boost efficiency.
Related Products
Related Products
iDimension LTL Pallet Dimensioning System
The iDimension LTL optimizes dimensional shipping and enhances quality assurance verification in loading bays, warehouses, and shipping and receiving departments.
iDimension® PWD Pallet and Box Dimensioning System
The iDimension® PWD dimensioner and scale system provides shippers with the dimensions and weight of palletized shipments, empowering users to identify the correct freight class and reduce the risk of non-compliance fees from carriers.