Handling and loading
Crews and equipment to load, unload, move and position loads at your premises, on site or at the dock, on a one-off or regular basis.
Transport & logistics
Handling and storage: outsource your logistics
Handling, lifting, warehousing, order picking: describe your flows once and compare quotes from logistics service providers.
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Moving, lifting, storing and preparing goods are trades in their own right, with their own equipment, premises, procedures and safety obligations. When activity fluctuates, the warehouse is full or shipping is not part of your core business, handing all or part of these tasks to a professional is often more flexible than investing in floor space, equipment and staff.
Suppliers cover a wide spectrum. Handling and lifting companies step in occasionally to load, unload or install a heavy load. Warehouse operators store your pallets or product lines. Logistics providers go further: receiving, stock management, order picking, dispatch and returns, run through an IT system connected to yours. This is known as outsourced logistics.
This page helps you formulate a request that can be compared: services, equipment, price factors, safety and contractual terms. The more precisely you describe your goods, volumes and flows, the more relevant the quotes you receive. To move your goods, see also the transport and delivery page.
Common services
Lifting and heavy handling
Positioning of machines, equipment or structures with forklifts, hoists, overhead cranes or cranes, after studying the weight, access and slinging method.
Goods receipt and inspection
Checking pallets and parcels on arrival, verifying quantity and condition, raising reservations with the carrier, then putting goods into stock with the location recorded.
Storage and warehousing
Storage of pallets in racking or on the floor, bulk products or small items, with management of locations, batches and dates, and regular stocktakes.
Order picking
Picking, packing, labelling, kitting and assembly of parcels or pallets ready to ship, according to your orders and deadlines.
Dispatch and returns management
Handover to carriers, issuing of documents, shipment tracking, then processing of returns: inspection, return to stock or scrapping.
Outsourced logistics
A provider takes over all or part of your chain: receiving, storage, picking, dispatch, with IT-based control connected to your sales management system.
Specialist storage
Temperature control, dangerous products, high-value parts, archives or site equipment: some goods require dedicated premises and procedures.
Vehicles and equipment
Counterbalance and reach forklift trucksManual or electric pallet trucks and stackersOverhead cranes, hoists and jib cranesMobile cranes and loader cranesPallet racking, cantilever racking and mezzaninesDocks, dock levellers and loading tail liftsStraps, slings and lifting accessoriesAccess platforms for work and stocktaking at heightBarcode scanners and radio terminalsWarehouse management software (WMS)
Customers and types of need
- Manufacturers outsourcing the storage of materials and parts
- Distributors and traders handling inbound and outbound pallets
- Brands and professional e-retailers shipping to their customers
- Building firms storing equipment between two sites
- Growing companies with no warehouse or short of temporary space
- Seasonal peaks that call for extra handling and picking capacity
- Installation or relocation of machines and heavy equipment
- Management of returns, repackaging and slow-moving stock
What affects the price
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1
Volume stored and duration
The number of pallet locations or the volume occupied, and the length of storage, form the basis of the price. A longer commitment can reduce the cost, but also your flexibility.
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2
Flows and order lines
The number of orders, lines per order and units to pick determines the preparation time, which is charged per order, per line or per parcel depending on the case.
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3
Nature of the goods
Fragile, dangerous, temperature-controlled or high-value goods: they require specific premises, procedures and insurance, which make the service more expensive.
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4
Service level and lead times
Same-day picking, appointment delivery, special labelling, enhanced quality control: the service level expected determines the staffing required.
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5
Information systems
Connection to your management software or online shop, real-time stock tracking, label printing: integration takes time to implement, sometimes charged separately.
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6
Equipment, access and seasonality
For handling, the weight of the loads, the equipment needed, access and night or peak-period working weigh as much as the duration of the job.
Tips for a successful request
Post a request- Describe the goods: type, dimensions, weight, packaging, and whether they are stackable, fragile, dangerous or perishable.
- Give your volumes: number of pallets or SKUs, goods in and out per week, seasonal peaks, order lines to pick.
- Specify the storage conditions (temperature, security, batch traceability) and your insurance requirements.
- Indicate your tools (management software, online marketplace, electronic data interchange) and the information you expect: stock levels, dispatch confirmations.
- For handling or lifting, attach weights, dimensions, access, ceiling height and any need for special equipment.
- Specify the duration: one-off extra capacity, storage for a few months or a multi-year contract, with the start date.
Safety, training and warehouse obligations
Handling is a high-risk activity: crushing, falling loads, collisions, musculoskeletal disorders. A serious supplier shows in how it controls them. In France, operating handling equipment is restricted to trained employees, who receive a driving authorisation from their employer. CACES certificates (certificat d’aptitude à la conduite en sécurité, the French certificate of safe operating competence) attest to training in operating equipment; ask for proof for the operators who will work at your premises.
Lifting equipment and trucks are subject to statutory periodic inspections, and racking must be used within its permitted load limits, normally displayed, and inspected regularly. Depending on volumes and products, a warehouse may fall under the French regulations for classified installations (ICPE), which impose fire safety and environmental rules. Loading and unloading operations between a host company and a haulier are governed by a safety protocol. Finally, the employer must limit manual handling of loads.
Dangerous products (flammable, corrosive, aerosols, gases) cannot be stored just anywhere: separation of product families, retention trays, ventilation, labelling and, depending on quantities, a declaration or authorisation under the classified installations regime. Flag them in your request: not every warehouse is equipped or authorised to take them, and both the price and the insurance depend on it.
Also ask for insurance certificates: Meaflow checks companies’ SIRET numbers (the French company registration number), not their insurance or their authorisations.
Outsourcing your storage: selection criteria and contract
Visit the site before committing: cleanliness, safety, fire and intrusion protection, dock organisation, rigour of stocktaking. Ask the supplier about its information system (location and batch management, stock levels you can consult, exchanges with your software) and its performance indicators: stock accuracy, compliance with picking lead times, error rate.
Also compare the full cost of an in-house solution (floor space, rent, staff, equipment, insurance, software) with that of an outsourced service, taking into account the flexibility gained in peaks and troughs of activity. Partial outsourcing, limited to storage or dispatch, often lets you start without upsetting your organisation.
For products with expiry dates or batches, traceability matters: the supplier must record the batch and date of each pallet, apply the agreed stock rotation rule (first in, first out, or first expired, first out) and be able to find quickly where a batch is in the event of a recall.
The contract must clearly set out the following points.
| Subject | What to specify |
|---|---|
| Scope | Services included, target volumes, service days and hours |
| Liability | Compensation caps, exclusions, declared value, insurance of the goods |
| Stocktakes | Frequency, permitted discrepancies, joint stocktake on entry and exit |
| Term and exit | Commitment, notice, return of stock and data (reversibility) |
| Confidentiality | Access to premises and information, any subcontracting |
The goods remain your property: state this in the contract. For a custom container or wedging, see the packaging page; to set out your requirements, use our specification generator.
Preparing a handling or lifting job
For a one-off operation, provide in advance the weights and dimensions, the centre of gravity if known, access (doors, heights, floor, roads) and the final position. The supplier will choose the equipment and slinging method, then estimate the time needed. Specify the site’s constraints: neighbouring activity, areas to protect, hours, presence of services.
For a heavy load or a delicate operation, ask for a written method statement: equipment chosen, lifting accessories, the role of each person (operator, slinger, banksman), cordoning of the area and stop conditions, for example in high wind for an outdoor lift. Check that the floor or road can bear the equipment’s outriggers. On an occupied site, plan coordination with other activities and, if several companies are working, a joint risk analysis.
If you are moving machines, see also the business relocation page. For the equipment and installations on your site, industrial maintenance covers their upkeep.
Suppliers: handling & storage
Guides to go further
Comparing three subcontracting quotes without getting it wrong
Scope, assumptions, unit price and fixed costs, lead time, terms, quality, Incoterm: the method and the grid to compare three quotes on an identical basis.
Related expertise
Transport & delivery
Freight transport, courier services, urgent runs
Business relocation
Moving of offices, workshops, archives and machines
Packaging & POS displays
Packaging, cartonboard, display stands
Industrial maintenance
Preventive and corrective maintenance, breakdown repair, machine overhaul
Frequently asked questions
A question not answered here? Visit the help centre or write to us.
Do you need training to drive a forklift truck?
Yes. In France, operating handling equipment is restricted to trained employees, who receive a driving authorisation from their employer. CACES certificates (certificats d’aptitude à la conduite en sécurité) attest to training in operating equipment. When you entrust operations to a supplier, ask for proof of training and authorisation for its drivers.
What is the difference between warehousing and outsourced logistics?
Warehousing means storing your goods on premises, with receiving and making them available. Outsourced logistics goes further: the supplier manages the stock, picks your orders, ships and processes returns, with computerised tracking. Many companies start with simple storage, then hand over other stages once their flows stabilise.
Who is liable for loss or breakage in a warehouse?
It depends on the contract. The warehouse operator must look after the goods with care, but its terms and conditions often limit compensation. Check the caps, the exclusions (fire, theft, water damage), the declared value and the insurance. As the goods remain your property, your own insurance may supplement the cover. Carry out a joint stocktake on entry and exit.
Should you store on the floor or in racking?
Floor storage suits products that are few in number, bulky or not stackable; it is simple but uses floor space. Pallet racking makes use of height and gives access to each pallet, at the cost of an investment and suitable equipment. A good supplier will advise you according to the number of SKUs, product turnover and loads.
Can you hire handling equipment with its operator?
Yes, some suppliers provide equipment with its operator, for example for a one-off unloading or a lift. State in your request the weight of the loads, access, duration and location. Ask for the driver’s training records, the equipment’s periodic inspections and the insurance certificate.
How do you get started with a logistics provider?
Start with a limited scope, for example one type of product or a single flow, with a trial period of a few weeks. Agree together the performance indicators, the stock transfer schedule and the stocktaking arrangements. A gradual start reduces the risk of service disruption and lets you adjust the contract before committing all your flows.
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