Best Ways to Prepare Pallets for Shipping

wooden pallets
 

If your company ships freight, you likely use the portable platforms known as pallets. Palletizing your freight provides protection for your shipment during loading, transport and unloading. They also make the loading and unloading processes faster and easier for carriers by using the space inside trailers in an efficient manner. All of the potential benefits of shipping on pallets is wasted, however, if you fail to prepare your shipments properly. Here are a few helpful tips on how to properly palletize your shipments.

Choose the Right Materials


Failing to use the right materials when packing shipments and preparing pallets can spell disaster. Start with new, high-quality boxes that are appropriate for the products you are shipping. Use packing materials like peanuts, bubble wrap, air pillows and corrugated cardboard inserts to fill voids in boxes and protect your products. Secure all boxes using high-quality packing tape that will not come undone during transit and apply appropriate labeling as needed.

Pallets come in a few different sizes, and it’s important to choose one that is suited to your needs. Look for one that is large enough to hold your cargo without any overhang. Pallets must be sturdy enough to support the load. For heavy loads, look for ones with closely spaced deck boards. Never use a pallet with protruding nail heads or broken boards. If possible, select one with four-way forklift entry.

Pack Individual Boxes Properly


Before you start loading boxes on pallets, it is vital to ensure that all the individual packages are filled properly. Make sure they are full and have no air space. If there is air, the box can easily be crushed, damaging the product inside. Either use smaller boxes or fill the voids with packing materials like bubble wrap, air pillows or Styrofoam peanuts. Be sure to use plenty of tape when sealing boxes to ensure that they don’t come open during transit.

Make sure the weight is distributed evenly within each individual box. Weight that is not distributed evenly could cause shifting during transit.

Stack the Boxes Carefully


When loading a pallet, the custom corrugated boxes need to be stacked carefully and evenly. Heavier packages go on the bottom, and lighter ones go on top. Make sure the weight is distributed evenly across the pallet. If it is heavier on one side than the other, it may shift during transit or when being loaded or unloaded.

distribution warehouse packages

Choose a pallet that is properly sized, and make sure your boxes do not overhang it. Overhang could cause your packages to act as bumpers and become damaged during shipment. Either align the boxes evenly or stagger them on the pallet. Staggering is preferred as it provides greater stability.

Use Extra Cardboard for Strength and Stability


When stacking boxes, add a layer of flat cardboard every few rows. You should also place a layer of cardboard on the bottom and at the top. This helps solidify all the loose boxes and is especially important if you are shipping several small packages rather than just a few larger ones. These cardboard layers also help distribute weight evenly. Also, use cardboard corner beads around the pallet to increase vertical stacking strength and prevent damage to corner edges.

Use Shrink Wrap Liberally


Shrink wrap is responsible for holding everything on the pallet tightly. Don’t be afraid to use a lot to make sure it doesn’t come apart. One or two wraps isn’t enough. Wrap the entire pallet three to five times. Also, be sure to use high-quality shrink wrap. You don’t want to skimp on quality and risk having it come undone during transit. Shrink wrap that is at least 60-gauge is recommended. Start at the bottom and work your way upward.

protective wrapping pallet boxes

When wrapping, twist the wrap to provide additional strength. Wrap the top part of the pallet, but don’t cover it completely. Partially wrapping it ensures that your cargo won’t separate from the pallet while ensuring forklifts are still able to pick up your freight.

For additional security, use strapping or banding to secure the load to the pallet. This further helps to prevent pieces from being lost during shipment.

Label Your Shipment


Each pallet should be labeled with complete address information and telephone numbers for the shipper as well as the consignee. Apply labels to each side of the pallet and on top to ensure that the information is easy to locate.

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