What are dunnage bags?
They are polywoven bags, constructed of level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4 or level 5 of fabric with a polyethylene bladder used to restrain loads in rail cars or trucks.

Why use dunnage air bags versus other materials?
Dunnage bags are less expensive than other materials such as lumber and nails, and they also reduce labor costs.

What size and level bags does International Dunnage have available?
See our list of level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, and level 5.

What type of dunnage air bag is recommended for truck shipments?
Level 1 bags

What type of bag is most commonly used for container shipments?
Level 2 bags

What type of dunnage bag is most commonly used for rail car shipments?
Level 3, level 4, and level 5 bags.

What type of equipment is necessary to inflate dunnage bags?
Quick fill snap-on inflator tool

What are they used for?
Dunnage Air Bags are used to restrain movement of cargo loads in trucks, overseas containers, or railcars. They fill voids, brace loads, absorb vibrations, and protect cargo from in-transit damage, better than any other form of bracing ("dunnaging")

What are the most common causes of freight damage?
The most common causes of freight damage are related to freight falling forward to backward, and double and triple decked skids bouncing in transit.

What are the effects of shifting loads and damaged freight?
Customers are unhappy. Valuable time is wasted putting the damaged freight back together at destination terminals. The necessity for "Re's" (Recouping, Restacking, Re-banding, Re-shrink-wrappping, and Re-working the load) adversely affect dock production and strain customer relations .

What are the benefits of using Dunnage Air Bags
Dunnage Air Bags represent a less expensive means of blocking and bracing than the use of lumber and nails or expensive rubber air bags.

What are the benefits of using Air Bags to the shipper?
The trucking industry is in an ever-changing fight for survival. Fuel costs and taxes continue to climb, insurance premiums soar, wages increase and discounts continue to consume the bottom line. Operational improvements must be made to maintain profit margins. Air Bags will have the biggest impact on the load factor (a carrier's largest single expense). One of the primary goals of the shipping Quality process is to improve organizational productivity. Time spent installing Air Bags will be saved at the destination terminals because the carrier can eliminate the "Re's". At the same time, better use can be made of container space.

How do I determine what size Dunnage Air Bag to use?
1. Measure void between cargo
2. Measure distance from floor to top of load
3. Measure the length of the pallets or whatever you are trying to restrain.
(See sheet "Information to Determine the Correct Size")

What is the maximum void recommended for Dunnage Bags?
8" void - 24" wide Air Bag is recommended
10" void - 30" wide Air Bag is recommended
12" void - 36" wide Air Bag is recommended
15" void - 48" wide Air Bag is recommended
20" void - 60" wide Air Bag is recommended

What can be done to utilize Dunnage Bags if void exceeds maximum recommended void?
Should this situation exist, reduce unusually large voids with old pallets, corrugated, or some type of void filler

Do Dunnage Bags require any type of protection?
To maintain product integrity, it is very important to place corrugated or some type of smooth surface on either side of the Dunnage Bag to protect it from rough edges (wooden crates, pallets, or anything sharp).

What type of equipment is necessary to inflate Dunnage Bags?
1. Compressed air from an air compressor
2. Inflator tool
3. Air gauge

Can Dunnage Bags be damaged during filling?
Dunnage Bags can be cold burned and can burst with over-inflation. Each bag has a label located near the valve with recommended pressure. If inflation check points are followed, it will eliminate these problems.

Are the bags re-usable?
Yes