A manifest is a document that helps to ship goods from one place to another. It provides a record of all the items that have been shipped and it also serves as a proof for verification purposes for both the seller and transporter.
Manifests have been around for hundreds of years and are used for loading and unloading ships, planes, trains and other transportation services. They are a great tool to have in case of a shipping accident or an error that causes loss or damage. In some cases, they can even provide the necessary information to file a shipping claim for lost, stolen or damaged goods.
Different types of manifests exist to handle different kinds of goods. For instance, some goods are hazardous and need special care to ensure safety during transportation. Similarly, some are temperature sensitive and need to be kept under the right conditions. Regardless of what type of cargo you are transporting, the most important thing is that all details are clearly outlined and that any indicated special handling requirements or needs are also included.
Some common types of manifests include:
Cargo Manifest
Goods that are classified as cargo must be transported according to specific rules and regulations. This is especially true of dangerous goods, which are regulated by specific laws. They must be packed in containers and properly labeled to make sure that they are safe for transit.
Reefer Manifest
If you are Manifest Shipping perishable or temperature-sensitive items, it is important to use a reefer manifest. This manifest will detail all the contents in the container and it will also show if there are any special instructions for temperature control.
Hazardous Cargo Manifest
If you have a shipment of hazardous materials, you will need a specific type of manifest for them. This manifest will include a list of all the hazardous chemicals in the shipment and it will also include labels to help the shipper and the carrier understand the contents and any special conditions involved.
Pre-Manifest Picking
Using manifests to prepare shipments before picking them can save time, labor, and money. But it’s not always the best option and there are risks associated with it.
Post-Manifest Picking
Typically, most companies use the post-manifest picking method. In this method, the packaging list, shipping label, and invoice are all printed before the items are picked. The main advantage of this is that you can charge the customer’s credit card before picking, but there are also some risks.
There are times when mistakes happen that you don’t catch until it’s too late. These mistakes can cost you a lot of money and it can be difficult to avoid them. In many cases, it’s possible to correct them by sending a manifest correction to the shipper or delivery destination. However, this process can be a hassle and it’s not always possible to change the contents of a manifest.
The most common mistake that can occur is called “manifested-not-shipped”. This happens when a last minute customer request adds 10 additional boxes to your shipment but these boxes are not removed from the original manifest and are not voided. This will result in you getting charged for 50 boxes, instead of the 30 that were shipped.