[UlTiMaTeP]

Originally Posted by Tristan Lall

Freight is regularly packaged in non-stackable forms. Consider goods shipped on pallets and shrinkwrapped, for example. Or cardboard shipping containers on skids. Or 300 gallon tanks. These things might be able to handle another object being placed on top of them, but the material handlers will use their judgment in deciding whether or not to actually do so, because they, like the rest of us, want to avoid damage (and corresponding liability).

I realize that FIRST says that crates should be stackable, but if you violate 6.3.2, it's an issue between you and FIRST (and FIRST doesn't really enforce this, or especially care). Your carrier is still obligated to take care of your freight, provided that it meets their own requirements for transport and storage. If your container meets their specifications, and they stack it, or invert it, and it's marked in such a way as to clearly state that these actions are unacceptable, then you should easily be able to file a claim with them for the damage incurred. (For example, FedEx's requirements for freight are here, and here.)

This isn't to say that a strong crate is a bad idea—because even normal handling is often hard on packaging. Just give the carrier some credit for being able to read and understand simple instructions. They're not generally in the business of breaking their customers' wares.

The contractors stack crates during storage while you are at the event. The tunnel access to the dome last year at Nationals, if you remember correctly, had all the crates lined up stacked on each other. Crates will be stacked and we have to accept that.