Resources
Shipping Note
A clear shipping note for South African workshop deliveries, from loading and crating to offloading on site.
How Shipping Note works for machine moves each week
Shipping Note sets out the handling details for moving a machine from stock to site. It covers loading, securing, crating where required, offloading arrangements, and the site conditions that can affect delivery.
Record the machine model, approximate mass, and collection point before transport is booked. Note whether the unit is a lathe, boring machine, or valve grinder, then add the loading method, lifting points, and any loose chucks, guards, or cabinets. Johannesburg access can differ sharply between industrial yards and tight workshop entrances, so the delivery note should mention truck size, gate width, and offloading space.
Include photos taken before the machine leaves stock, especially around the bed, headstock, control panel, and any exposed slides. Crating, shrink wrap, timber skids, and tie-down points should be listed on the note so site staff can check what was sent against what arrives. If tooling travels separately, mark each item against the same dispatch record.
Loading details that matter
A proper shipping note sets out who loads, what lifting equipment is used, and how the machine is secured for the road. It should also mention whether coolant has been drained, whether moving parts are locked, and whether fragile items such as dials or guards have been removed for protection. That gives the receiving workshop a clear handover record when the truck reaches site.
Before dispatch, check the machine against the note and confirm that loose items are counted and labelled. Add any access limits at the delivery address, including forklift availability, overhead clearance, and uneven ground near the offloading point.
- Machine mass and lifting method recorded
- Loose tooling listed before dispatch
- Delivery access conditions written clearly
Site conditions that affect delivery
Crown Mines dispatches often head to working engineering premises where production, forklifts, and other vehicles share the same yard. The shipping note should state whether the truck backs into a bay, unloads at street level, or needs a crane arranged by the receiving workshop. For heavier machines, include whether skates, rollers, or a forklift will move the unit from curbside to final position.
Rain, road grime, and coastal air all change how exposed metal should be protected during transport. Inland dust can work into open slides and lead screws if covers are not fitted before loading. Load shedding can also affect offloading if the site relies on powered lifting equipment, so that condition belongs on the note.
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Checks before the truck leaves
Use the shipping note with loading photos, dispatch timing, and any transport issues already known. Keep the subject line exact.
Complete the shipping note while the machine is still accessible in the yard or workshop, not after it has been strapped on the vehicle. Confirm the serial or stock reference, photograph the loaded position, and note any visible marks or missing accessories. That written record helps both dispatch and receiving staff compare condition at collection and at delivery.