Shipping a pallet is one of the most efficient ways of ensuring that your items are delivered on time and without damage. But many businesses are hesitant to ship items using pallets for a variety of reasons, including an unfamiliarity with the process, a lack of materials, or overreliance on less secure, more expensive shipping methods. So let’s take a quick look at the palletized freight shipping process and how to ship a pallet.
First things first -- if you’re unfamiliar with the term, a pallet is a “portable, horizontal, rigid, composite platform used as a base for assembling, storing, stacking, handling, and transporting goods as a unit load,” according to MHI, the nation’s largest supply chain association. Pallets are primarily made of wood, but are also commonly made of plastic and composite materials. Pallets have increased shipping efficiency by allowing for larger shipping loads and quicker transport.
It’s important to know when shipping a pallet makes sense. If you are shipping multiple boxes to the same location, using a pallet is your most efficient and effective option for safe and timely delivery.
How to Pack & Wrap a Pallet for Shipping
Once you’ve decided on using a pallet for shipping, you can take steps to properly prepare your pallet for shipping.
- Use the appropriate pallet size The most popular pallet size in North America is 48x40 inches, but sizes vary by a few inches in width and length. Your boxes or items should fit on the pallet with room to spare. Always leave a few inches to make sure your shipment is secure on the pallet.
- Stack boxes according to size If your boxes require stacking, be sure to put the largest, heaviest boxes directly on the pallet. These boxes will provide a sturdy base for the smaller, lighter boxes placed on top and prevent any items from being crushed.
- Stabilize boxes on the pallet. Not all shipments are going to fit together perfectly. It’s important to fill in the gaps between boxes with styrofoam or cardboard to prevent the boxes from shifting or shaking loose.
- Secure the shipment on the pallet. Before wrapping the pallet, we recommend using straps to add another layer of protection from shifting or sliding boxes. Once straps are tightly fitted, you can begin wrapping the pallet with shrink wrap. Start at the bottom of the pallet and tightly wrap the shipment, moving up as you circle the pallet.
If you’re confident in your palletizing, Pak Mail is more than ready to pick up your shipment. If you’ve run into a few problems while palletizing, or you’d prefer to leave it to experienced professionals, Pak Mail can help you there as well. We provide on-site packing, so you can be sure that your shipment is handled with proper care, and our team is well-versed in shrink-wrapping, banding, and custom crating.
Contact one of our experts at your local Pak Mail location to discuss how Pak Mail can help get your items delivered safely, on time, and at the lowest cost possible.