The safety of transport packages may be demonstrated by numerical calculation of load scenarios defined in the IAEA regulations. Possible handling accidents of casks at interim storage sites or in a final repository are typically analyzed by dynamic finite element computations. In each case the investigated load scenario must be transferred into a mathematical model. Secondly the mathematical model must be transferred into a numerical model. Reliable finite element models should be developed by assembling verified sub-models of components. The finite element mesh, material modeling, initial and boundary conditions, contact definitions, and time integration as well as the benefit of pre- and post-calculations are discussed. The paper presents lessons learnt from modeling dynamic test scenarios for finite element analyses over the years.