Why blocking and bracing material is used?

• A. To label cargo for customs
• B. To prevent shifting during transit
• C. To reduce shipping cost
• D. To mark cargo as hazardous

Answer: (B)

Blocking and bracing material is used to prevent shifting of cargo during handling and transit. By filling gaps and securing items against movement, it keeps packages from sliding, toppling, or colliding with each other when the vehicle accelerates, brakes, or goes over rough roads. This stabilizes the load, protects fragile goods, helps maintain even weight distribution, and reduces the risk of damage to the cargo and to people handling it. The approach specifically counteracts the forces of transport, whereas labeling for customs, reducing shipping cost, or marking hazardous cargo do not address movement and safety. In practice, materials like wood blocks, wedges, dunnage, or airbags create a rigid, confined space that holds everything in place from origin to destination.