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- Overview
Container condition checklist
Packing the container
Securing cargo
Container transport requirements
A properly loaded container is essential to ensure your cargo arrives safely and on time at the Walmart fulfillment center without delays or damage. This guide will show you how to evaluate container condition before loading and provide guidance on how to pack it safely in preparation for inbound shipping to the U.S.
As outlined in the WMSC Logistics Services, LLC Freight Terms and Conditions (“Terms and Conditions”) and in the Comprehensive Walmart Marketplace Program Retailer Agreement (“Agreement”), you are required to keep information labeled by Walmart as confidential private. Please note that this content is considered confidential information. Because of this, it may not be shared with anyone outside Walmart without permission.
Checking the container condition
Sellers should make sure the container is clean and meets WFS standards before loading. In general, reject the container if:
The walls and roof have holes or gaps.
The floorboards are dirty, wet, have a chemical odor or rot (Keep in mind: A clamp machine used to offload oversized containers is usually around 2,900 kgs/6,400 lbs. It’s essential the container floor is strong enough to support the weight of the machine and the added cargo).
Doors do not open and close properly, not forming a tight seal.
There are insects or pests.
The Convention for Safe Containers (CSC Safety) approval plate is missing, unreadable, or out of date.
There is excessive rust, dents, or damage to the structure of the container.
If a container is rejected, do not load it. Any container that arrives at a WFS fulfillment center in unacceptable condition is the seller’s responsibility unless the damage is caused by outside forces (carrier, terminal).
Use this Container Condition Checklist to verify the container is in safe and acceptable condition before loading.
Packing your items
To learn more about how to properly pack and label your cargo, follow the guidelines in the WFS Routing and Packaging Guide.
Loading the container
Proper container loading is essential to minimize damage, comply with WFS standards, and help make the unloading process at the fulfillment center run smoothly so your items can reach customers as quickly as possible. A well-loaded container should be balanced and maximize the space.
General packing requirements
Keep a 1-2-inch clearance from container sidewalls to ensure clamp trucks have enough space to grasp the boxes.
Leave at least 7 inches of space at the tail end to allow the unloading ramp to attach to the container.
To ensure safe shipping, cargo must be properly secured using bracing materials (such as wood, metal, or other approved materials) to stabilize cargo and prevent shifting during transportation. You may also need to install airbags or dunnage bags to create a buffer between the cargo and the container walls, minimizing movement and reducing the risk of damage. Taking these precautions supports a smoother shipping experience and helps ensure your items arrive safely.
Evenly load your cartons to comply with axle weight limits. Refer to the section on Container Transport Requirements in this guide.
Stack lighter items on top.
Tall cartons should be in the back (nose end), with smaller cartons stacked toward the door (tail end).
Make sure shipping labels are tail-facing and visible for unloading.
Important
Do not load cartons in irregular patterns. Make sure items are stacked straight and even to allow fulfillment center clamp trucks enough space to grasp the cargo and safely remove it from the container.
To help streamline the unloading process and make inventory available to sell (ATS) faster, load cargo by SKU or GTIN. If a container includes multiple items with different GTINs, each product type should be grouped together, rather than mixing different product types throughout the container. This makes receiving, unloading, and sorting inventory easier and faster on arrival. For more details, see the WFS Routing and Packing Guide Overview.
Wood pallets
Usually, you’ll floor load cargo to maximize container volume, but you may use pallets if necessary. The following USDA import requirements for wood packaging materials, including pallets and dunnage, must be met and verified:
Debarked: Pallets must be debarked (removal of bark from wood).
Heat treated: Treated to kill pests (heated to 56C or 133F for at least 30 minutes (HT) or fumigated with methyl bromide (MB).
Stamped with IPPC: Stamped with the full IPPC mark to meet international export requirements. This includes the IPPC logo, country code, facility number, and treatment type (HT or MB).
Clean/pest-free: Clean and free of live pests (no mold, insects, or other visible contamination).
Hazmat and Dangerous Goods
There are specific guidelines to follow and other considerations for loading a container with dangerous goods. For more information on handling hazmat and other dangerous goods, read the article on Shipping Dangerous Goods.
Securing cargo
Securing your cargo properly is key to preventing items from moving or shifting in the container during transit. Secure all items tightly against each other within the container.
If the cargo doesn’t fill the entire container, secure it using tie-downs, strapping, dunnage, fasteners, direct or friction lashing, blocking or bracing.
Once the container is loaded, seal it properly to prevent tampering and theft.
Following these loading guidelines does not guarantee an undamaged container and cargo. This is guidance designed to minimize potential damage by adhering to established industry best practices.
Weighing a laden container
Load distribution
Proper load distribution is critical to:
Avoid instability and accidents or even capsizing
Prevent damage to cargo and equipment at unloading
Stay compliant with axle weight limits
Load weight
Accurate container weight is essential for meeting safety standards, legal requirements, and to help the overall business run smoothly. Overweight containers can lead to shipping delays, penalties, and loss of customer satisfaction.
Rework policy
A majority of Walmart Imports shipments enter through California, where there are strict weight standards for cargo and how it's distributed. This is why it's essential to ensure accurate weight measurements to avoid delays (3-4 days minimum remedy time) and additional fees when shipping anywhere in the United States.
For example, if a container was unbalanced and heavy in the middle, it wouldn't be safe for unloading. It would go to a third-party facility to be reworked and reloaded correctly into a different trailer. The costs associated with this rework process would become your responsibility. You can avoid this scenario by staying compliant, which begins with knowing the total weight of the loaded container – the Verified Gross Mass.
Total cargo weight: Verified Gross Mass (VGM)
VGM is the total weight of a packed container. The VGM must include the total verifiable weight of the packed container, including cargo content, dunnage and securing materials, container tare weight, and the signature of an authorized person. As a requirement under international law, the shipper on the Bill of Lading must accurately declare this before shipping. Without it, shipments will not be accepted for loading.
The VGM for a packed container may not exceed 80,000 lbs.
How to determine the VGM
There are two ways to calculate VGM.
Method 1: Weigh the entire packed container.
Use a certified, calibrated weighbridge.
If weighed with a truck, subtract the truck’s weight and fuel.
Method 2: Add up all individual weights (best for shippers with accurate item weights and tare details).
Add:
Total cargo weight
individual cargo items, packaging, and dunnage, and then adding the container's tare weight (located on the CSC plate).
Weight distribution and VGM
It’s important to understand not only the maximum weight allowed, but how the weight is distributed, especially over each axle.
Every Walmart Cross Border - Imports shipment includes a clause in the Bill of Lading declaring the correct container weight. Always use certified, calibrated equipment to ensure accurate item weights for shipping. The carrier relies on these weights and may use them as their own official weight when passing cargo to the steamship line.
Preparing the VGM declaration paperwork
VGM paperwork must be completed before a container can be loaded onto a vessel. Sellers use it to declare the weight of the container and certify that it’s accurate. The VGM declaration paperwork must include the following:
Booking/Bill of Lading number
Container number
VGM in kilograms
The method used to determine VGM - Method 1: Weigh the entire packed and sealed container on a certified weighbridge. Method 2: Weigh all individual cargo items, packaging, dunnage and add the container’s tare weight.
Shipper’s company name, address, and contact details
Vessel name and voyage
Signatory company name
Name, date, and signature of the authorized company representative responsible for the declaration.
After this, the paperwork is ready to submit to the origin agent.
Reporting loss or damage
If there is loss or damage to lading, make sure to file a claim within 9 months of the date of delivery, or scheduled date of delivery for lost lading. All Walmart Imports sellers should read the WMSC LLC Terms and Conditions to learn more. Go to Settings (click the Gear icon in the top right corner of Seller Center), then select Administrator Options > Agreements.
Following these loading guidelines does not guarantee an undamaged container and cargo. This is guidance designed to minimize potential damage by adhering to established industry best practices.