The Dos and Don'ts of Palletizing Your Shipping Boxes

 Getting your shipping boxes palletized is a virtual necessity for shipping large quantities of certain goods. Not only is it the fastest and most efficient way to store goods in transit, but most carriers will require it. Moreover, they’ll expect the freight to already be palletized when they come to pick it up, so you’d better be ready to do it–and do it correctly.

If you’re somewhat new to palletizing goods, you’ve come to the right place for help. Air Sea’s shipping and packaging experts have the know-how to help you get your goods safely and efficiently palletized, including how to choose the right materials from our wide selection. Read on to learn seven great tips on how you can set yourself up for success when palletizing goods by following best practices and knowing how to avoid the common errors.

freight transportation courier checklist

1. Do use straps and stretch wrap.


Preventing your goods from shifting should be the number one goal of palletization and stretch wrap and pallet straps are the best tools to accomplish that. Plastic stretch wrap is an excellent all-around tool to keep palletized goods immobile since it clings tightly and can hold a great deal of weight. (Make sure to remember to knot the shrink wrap around the bottom of the pallet.) Adjustable pallet straps are a great way to reinforce plastic wrap and give your pallet another line of defense.

Finally, dunnage air bags are another great tool available from Air Sea Containers. They’re reusable and biodegradable plastic air cushions that can be placed in between different pallets and used to prevent them from shifting and bumping against each other.

2. Don’t leave major overhangs.


To preserve your goods, you should make sure that your boxes can utilize the full compression strength they’re designed with. One thing that’s notorious for decreasing how much weight boxes can support? Leaving an inch or more of boxes hanging off the side, which can reduce compression strength by up to 30 percent. Ragged, misaligned stacks are almost as bad, so take the time to ensure that the stacks form a solid and coherent block.

3. Do stack the heaviest boxes on the bottom.


If you have to stack different-sized boxes on the same pallet, the largest and heaviest boxes should be the foundation of your stack. These big, hefty boxes can support more weight and they’ll create a solid foundation that helps keep the other boxes in place and stable. However, when possible, you should also avoid a “pyramid” shape with all of the small boxes sitting on top, as these are less stable than you might imagine. Instead, try to place smaller boxes evenly throughout the stack.

4. Don’t forget the labels.


Labels will help logistics workers to handle your goods safely and will aid the party receiving them in speeding up put-away. Hazmat labels are particularly crucial if you’re shipping goods that fall under any of the GHS hazmat classes, so do your research and make sure that you know exactly what labeling practices your goods require.

cardboard boxes on wooden pallet

5. Do use a slip-mat and corrugated inner layers.


Many pallets, particularly the wooden slat type, have significant gaps between their platforms. A box sitting on top of one of these gaps can have its compression strength significantly compromised, so use a corrugated or plastic slip-mat to bridge the gaps and prevent boxes from shifting in transit. Corrugated inner layer panels placed between layers can also help increase stability.

6. Do stagger the boxes when possible.


Stacking boxes in a staggered pattern is always the preferred method when possible, as it helps distribute weight more evenly and improves stability. A few different staggering patterns exist, so look them over and decide which is most appropriate for your pallet goods.

7. Don’t forget to ask your carrier if they have any additional rules.


Many carriers may have additional rules for how they want goods to be stacked and wrapped. Make sure you’ve thoroughly reviewed your freight carrier’s regulations for palletized goods. Remember also that if you’re shipping via air or maritime freight, you’ll have to follow the specific packaging codes set out by either the IATA or the IMO.

wrapped boxes for shipment

Properly palletizing your shipping boxes will help ensure a safer and easier-to-handle shipment that’s compliant with freight carrier rules and is truck-ready as soon as it hits the dock—and Air Sea Containers can help you create the palletization solution that’s just right for you! Learn more about our shipping pallets and our whole selection of goods by calling us at (866) 956-9448 or contacting us online.

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