Three Vibration-Control Innovations Saving Drivers and Shipments

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Three Vibration-Control Innovations Saving Drivers and Shipments

Three Vibration-Control Innovations Saving Drivers and Shipments

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May 05,25

In this article, Emily Newton discusses some of the latest innovations to improve vibration control and protect packages during transportation.

Three Vibration-Control Innovations Saving Drivers and Shipments

Today’s global economy and supply chains have resulted in many goods travelling significant distances to reach their destinations. However, handling partners may jostle delicate items when moving products between different shipping methods and routes, requiring packaging and transport specialists to take specific precautions to prevent damage. What are some of the latest innovations to protect packages and give delivery drivers more peace of mind during their routes?

1. Packaging simulations

Frequent online shoppers probably notice a tremendous variation in the types and sizes of the parcels that arrive on their doorsteps. For example, what determines whether a retailer uses a box or envelope to ship an item? Online retailers can easily collect data to assess their chosen method’s suitability. According to a 2024 study, most shoppers in the United Kingdom receive three to five parcels weekly, with 8 per cent getting more than 20.

E-commerce companies can survey their customers to learn how well the chosen packaging protects the goods inside. Damaged boxes or broken contents signify that the business should make urgent improvements. Preventive measures to control vibration are crucial because items can get shaken, dropped or bumped during transit.

In some cases, it’s sufficient to add bubble wrap, cardboard inserts or other packing materials to reduce product movement. However, professionals at Amazon take a more all-encompassing approach by creating various simulations to mimic in-transit parcels.

From shaker tables that imitate what might happen to goods on trucks to weights that emulate the conditions of stacked boxes, the goal is to understand how vibration and other stresses will affect the packaging. That knowledge allows people to behave proactively when choosing protective measures.

2. Comprehensive approaches

Supply chain professionals must also consider a layered approach to vibration control, including examining where and when the most severe problems occur. Additionally, decision-makers should consider product-specific needs. Those transporting sensitive equipment may use a five-level set of vibration criteria. The most delicate goods may require products such as wire rope isolators to reduce natural frequencies.

Similarly, people should understand the differences between shocks and vibrations and which are more likely to affect their drivers. While shocks are short, intense energy bursts, vibrations are lower in amplitude. However, both can be present simultaneously, requiring thorough mitigation measures.

Some researchers are also examining new types of packaging that could improve vibration control and replace plastic, offering durable, protective and sustainable options. One example comes from Finland, where participants worked on a two-phase project involving folding cardboard in origami shapes. Their method suits various paperboard grades and requires no material changes.

These examples illustrate why vibration control is a multifaceted issue requiring thorough investigation and consideration of the possibilities.

3. Vehicle technologies

Though many vibration-control solutions exist at the packaging level, there are also feasible opportunities for vehicles and operators. For example, hard braking and sharp turns can increase shocks, and poorly maintained vehicles may have abnormal vibrations. Numerous technologies make it easier to see the precise statistics associated with individual delivery trucks or drivers, allowing supply chain leaders to pinpoint specific problems.

Many in-vehicle solutions improve safety by increasing visibility and collecting data about unsafe behaviours. One vehicle camera’s operating system received hundreds of thousands of hours of training data to recognise people on the road. Such upgrades reduce pedestrian accidents, but others are available to reduce vibrations and protect parcels.

That may mean changing vehicle servicing schedules to detect problems sooner and keep trucks off the roads if they have abnormalities that could cause excessive vibrations. This approach would protect parcels and make routes more enjoyable for drivers who spend hours in their vehicles.

However, dispatchers should also determine if most vibrations stem from road conditions. Poorly maintained infrastructure could cause prolonged vibrations, and drivers may occasionally subject the transported goods to shocks as they encounter potholes. However, many telematics platforms can track vehicle locations and provide routing assistance. For instance, if a tool indicates a driver’s shift will include long journeys on bumpy roads, the solution may be to adjust their route to include smoother, better-maintained motorways.

Stabilising shakiness

These examples show supply chain leaders have many options to improve vibration control. They can get the best results by taking individualised approaches.

About the author:

Emily Newton is a tech and industrial journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized magazine. Subscribe to the Revolutionized newsletter for more content from Emily.

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