How to ship a pallet

Palletizing freight is the single best thing you can do to protect it. A well-built pallet ships faster, costs less and arrives in one piece, because carriers can move it with a forklift instead of handling each box.

Here is how to prepare and ship a pallet the right way, step by step.

Start with a sturdy pallet rated for your weight. A standard 48" x 40" wooden pallet handles most freight, but check it has no broken boards or protruding nails — a weak pallet is the most common cause of in-transit damage.

For international shipments, use a heat-treated (ISPM 15 stamped) pallet so it clears customs without delay.

1. Place the heaviest, sturdiest items on the bottom and lighter ones on top.
2. Keep the load square — nothing should overhang the edges of the pallet, or it will be crushed in handling.
3. Distribute weight evenly so the pallet does not become top-heavy or lean.
4. Use a single column stack where possible; interlocking layers add stability for mixed boxes.

A stacked pallet is not a shipped pallet until it is wrapped and banded. Securing the load keeps it as one unit through every handling.

• Stretch-wrap the entire load, anchoring the wrap to the pallet itself at the base.
• Add banding or straps over the top for heavy or tall loads.
• Use corner boards to protect edges and stop the straps from cutting into boxes.

Accurate numbers prevent reweigh fees and surprise charges. Weigh the finished pallet and measure its length, width and height including the pallet.

Label clearly with the destination address, and attach the bill of lading. Make labels visible on at least two sides so a forklift operator never has to spin the pallet.

One pallet usually ships LTL; six to eighteen often fit PTL; a trailer-load goes FTL. The right mode depends on your pallet count, weight and how delicate the freight is.

Have your pallet count, dimensions, weight, and pickup and delivery ZIP codes ready when you book — that is everything a broker needs to quote the move.