Pallet shipping is one of the most popular methods for transporting goods across borders. This brief guide will walk you through the essentials of safe and effective pallet shipments.
Pallet shipping helps you optimize your freight transport in terms of speed, safety, and cost. That’s why it’s a standard, and often required, packing method for international shipments.
What Is Pallet Shipping?
Pallet shipping is a process of transporting freight using pallets. When you consolidate boxed goods or even single large items onto a pallet, you make it easier and safer to handle and transport your shipment. It’s a widespread and often mandatory practice in international trade.
Indeed, today, pallet freight accounts for 80% of global trade.
Why use pallets? The main reason is that they are durable, stackable, and designed for easy machine handling. Additionally, they are available in various materials and size specifications, which facilitates international shipping even further.
Pallet or Skid?
In the U.S., you’ll often hear the terms skid and pallet used interchangeably by carriers and other logistics service providers. However, these two transport structures have distinct differences.
A skid, the ancestor of the modern pallet, is a single-loading platform that rests on pedestals connected to the deck. The modern shipping pallet was invented in the 1930s, featuring a top and bottom deck. But, when it comes to metal structures, any type of pallet or skid is usually referred to as a “skid” or “metal skid”.
Wooden platforms, on the other hand, retain their distinct names. Single-deck skids made of wood are sometimes used for heavy machinery or warehousing because they have less friction and are easier to slide around. Double-decked pallets, though, are far better when it comes to racking, stability, and hauling by forklifts or pallet jacks.
Pallets vs. Freight Boxes vs. Crates
On top of pallets, when palletizing your freight, you might consider other solutions, like plain boxes or crates. Let’s have a look at these options.
Loose Freight Boxes
Shipping individual, unpalletized boxes, especially for international ocean freight, can lead to higher costs if carriers have to palletize them for you. This approach requires more manual handling, which translates to higher costs and a higher risk of damage.
To illustrate that, consider a scenario where you give your carrier 57 boxes to ship cross-border. This increases the chance of handling damage 57 times more than stacking them on a single pallet that would actually be machine handled.
Crates
Crates enclose your products within a sturdy structure, often made of wood, offering superior protection. Many shippers use crates for extremely fragile, high-value, or unusually shaped cargo, while certain carriers may recommend crates for any type of LCL (Less-than-Container-Load) shipment.
On the other hand, crates can be more expensive due to material costs, increased weight, and volume.
Pallet Shipment
Pallets are the best option for grouping multiple boxes or placing large, durable items into a single, machine-handled unit. They offer a balanced mix of protection, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
Pallets are durable and stackable, which optimizes cargo space in Less-than-Container Load (LCL) ocean freight or air freight. For most general cargo, pallets are a preferred and often required solution.
When Pallets Are Right For You
Palletizing your shipment is an excellent option if your freight meets the following criteria:
- You are shipping multiple boxes to the same destination that need to stay together.
- You want to reduce the risk of damage during transit.
- Your items require drainage and circulation.
- Your load needs to be handled with forklifts or pallet jacks.
- You are shipping Less-than-Container Load (LCL) freight.
- You ship to or import from countries and regions where palletized cargo is mandatory.
Standard Shipping Pallet Sizes & Dimensions
To comply with carrier requirements and international pallet standards, you need to choose the right pallet size for your load.
Standard Pallet Sizes For Shipping
Here are the most widely used pallet sizes in international trade:
- North America (U.S. and Canada): The most common is the GMA pallet, 48″ x 40″ (1,219 mm x 1,016 mm). Other common sizes include 42″ x 42″ (used in the beverage industry) and 48″ x 48″ (for large containers).
- Europe (EUR/EPAL): The standard is 47.2″ x 31.5″ (1,200 mm x 800 mm). The acronym EPAL stands for European Pallet Association.
- Asia: A common size is 43.3″ x 43.3″ (1100 mm x 1100 mm ).
- Australia: A unique standard size is 45.9″ x 45.9″ (1165 mm x 1165 mm).
- General Air Freight Pallet Dimensions: For international air freight in passenger aircraft, the maximum pallet size is 96” × 125” (2,440 mm × 3,150 mm), with a height limit of 61” (1,550 mm), depending on the aircraft type. Larger cargo may require cargo planes, which can accommodate heights up to 118.1” (3,000 mm).
Standard Freight Pallet Weight
Depending on its make, shipping pallet weight varies:
- Wooden pallets: 30-70 lbs (14-32 kg).
- Plastic pallets: 10-50 lbs (4.5-22.5 kg).
- Metal pallets range from 50 to 150 lbs (23-68 kg).
Maximum Pallet Weight Loads
Keeping your shipment just below your pallet’s max capacity prevents damage and potential overcharge fees.
- A standard 48″ × 40″ pallet can typically hold up to 4,600 lbs (2,087 kg).
- Other common capacities include 36″ × 36″ pallets at 4,700 lbs (2,132 kg) and 42″ × 42″ or 48″ × 48″ pallets at 3,700 lbs (1,678 kg).
How To Ship A Pallet
Properly preparing and loading your pallet is the key to smooth and safe freight transport.
Preparing For Your Pallet Shipment
- Documents: Have all necessary paperwork ready, along with your Air Waybill (for air freight) or Bill of Lading (for ocean freight). For international shipments, documents include a commercial invoice, packing list, and often a certificate of origin. For wooden pallets, a Fumigation Certificate is essential to prove ISPM 15 compliance.
- Packing: Begin by thoroughly packing individual products. Use sturdy, undamaged boxes with an appropriate Edge Crush Test (ECT) rating. Fill any void space with cushioning materials like bubble wrap or foam to prevent items from shifting or being crushed. Seal all boxes securely with strong, thick tape, and number them.
- Inspect your items before packing or palletizing them, so that you can check and document any pre-existing damage.
- Take high-quality photos of your items and the loaded pallet before pickup. This serves as crucial evidence in case of damage during transit.
How To Load Your Pallet For Safe Shipping
Knowing how to palletize a shipment correctly is crucial for cargo stability and protection:
- Always place the heaviest boxes or items directly on the pallet to create a stable base and prevent the shipment from becoming top-heavy and unstable.
- Distribute the weight evenly across the entire pallet to avoid leaning or instability.
- Stack boxes directly on top of each other in columns with a balanced surface area distribution. Avoid interlocking or pyramid stacking, and keep the top layer flat for the safe stacking of other pallets on top.
- Tightly pack items together to minimize gaps, which can cause shifting. Ensure that no items extend beyond the pallet’s edge (overhang), as this significantly reduces compression resistance and increases vulnerability to damage.
How To Secure Your Load
After you stack your boxes, you need to secure them on the pallet:
- Shrink Wrapping Pallets: Begin by tightly wrapping the entire shipment and pallet with shrink wrap, starting at the base and working your way up. Aim for at least three to five full turns around the pallet, twisting the wrap for added strength. This complete enclosure keeps everything tightly held together and helps prevent damage from dirt, debris, or moisture.
- Strapping Pallets: After shrink-wrapping, use straps to further secure the load. Loop at least two tightly secured bands through the pallet’s voids and around all items. Strapping ensures items won’t slide off during transit and provides extra stability.
- Using Dunnage: Incorporate protective materials to enhance load stability and protection, such as slip sheets at the bottom of the pallet, cardboard sheets between layers of boxes, and corner and edge protectors along the exterior points of the load.
How To Label Your Pallet Shipment
After securing your goods on the pallet, you need to add labels:
- Label each side of the pallet clearly with large fonts.
- Include the name and address of both the shipper and consignee, along with their zip codes.
- Attach multiple copies of the Bill of Lading to various sides of the shipment.
- Place contact information inside the boxes in case external labels fall off.
- Add any special handling instructions like “Fragile,” “Handle With Care,” or “Do Not Stack” to alert handlers.
How Ship4wd Can Help
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