Advantages of Unit Loads.

TM 38-400/NAVSUP PUB 572/AFMAN 23-210 MCO 4450.14/DLAM 4145.12

(figs 3-57 and 358). Notably, 48-inch high loads cannot

be double stacked into 8-foot vans.

Figure 3-56. Nonbonded loads.

3-88. Advantages of Unit Loads.

a. Economy. Unit loads provide an economical

means of handling, storing, and transporting by

eliminating manual handling of individual items and

minimizing the incidence of pilferage.

b. Speed in handling. With unit loads, more

tonnage can be moved in less time than is possible with

other handling methods.

c. Utilization of cubic space. Material in unit loads

Figure 3-57. Nonpalletized unit load of boiler tubes.

can be mechanically stacked to greater heights, thus,

utilizing a greater percent of available cubic storage

space.

Covered space is expensive; therefore,

increased utilization will decrease the overall cost of

storage. During periods of increased receipts, the

demand for storage space frequently exceeds the

supply.

Utilization of cubic space is even more

important at this time.

d. Decreased damage to material. Incidence of

damage to material handled under the unit load concept

will be much less than for material handled as individual

containers through all steps of storage and

transportation.

e. Safety. Handling of material in unit loads is

safer for personnel. Many of the accidents most

Figure 3-58. Nonpalletized unit load of lumber.

common to storage operations occur where individual

container handling is involved.

b. Use of storage aids. Storage aids such as

dunnage, collars, spacers, separators, strapping, and

3-89. Unitizing Methods.

others should be utilized when necessary to secure,

holster, or protect unit loads in storage as well as loads

a. Nonpalletized unit loads. Usually, non-palletized

prepared for shipment. For details in the use of these

unit loads (including lumber, steel, and bar stock)

aids for storage purposes, refer to chapter 5. For their

whether assembled for storage or shipment will be much

use in shipping functions, refer to MILSTD-147.

larger in length than the normal palletized unit load.

However, the dimensions of non-palletized unit loads

c. Cube dimension and weight requirements of unit

should not exceed 48 inches in either width or height

loads.

3-87