Heavy and Oversized Freight Blog

There is a very costly misconception regarding ocean shipping that may lead global shippers of heavy freight to pay far more than needed.  Specifically, steamship lines promote the idea that container weights must be limited to 44,000 pounds or less to stay within “legal” limits.  Knowing the actual truck weight limits by state (see the chart further on in this article) can easily lead to six-figure savings for large-volume shippers of heavy freight.

In 2016, in order to improve safety in the supply chain, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) made amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention mandating all shippers to verify the gross mass of a packed export container prior to vessel loading.

Ocean shippers must provide this information in order to stay in compliance with VGM Regulations.  Here’s a quick review of shipper responsibilities.