Mistakes To Avoid When Packing a Pallet

While preparing your products for distribution through your supply chain, take every available precaution to keep your inventory safe. Ensuring the security and stability of the pallets you ship is an essential part of this process—meaning you must stop your company from making avoidable mistakes. Here are six examples of mistakes to avoid when packing a pallet.

Wrong Size Pallet

The standard size for a pallet is 48x40in but that doesn’t mean it’s the only size available. When ordering pallets, make sure you purchase the correct size for your business’s needs. If you produce or manufacture products with odd dimensions, such as furniture, consider working with your pallet provider to devise a custom solution that’ll work for everyone.

Poor Stacking

Improper stacking presents a significant yet unnecessary risk for many along the supply chain. Proper stacking includes keeping heavier items at the bottom and ensuring nothing hangs over the side of the pallet.

Improper Labeling

One of the most common mistakes made along many supply chains is a failure to plan. This failure often involves forgetting to include the necessary paperwork and labeling for shipments. Failing to plan ahead and properly labeling your freight can result in lost, damaged, or delayed shipments, all of which could have been avoided.

Over Filling the Pallet

Contrary to the wishes of many, there’s a weight limit to how much weight a pallet can carry. It’s normally around 4,600 lbs. Those trying to save a few dollars or those new to the complexities of freight shipping could end up doing more harm than good if the pallet breaks and damages the products.

Not Securing Your Load

Failing to properly secure the load after stacking is another of the mistakes to avoid when packing a pallet. Using load protectors stabilizes your shipment and prevents the weight from shifting during transport. Corner and edge boards strengthen the parameter of the freight and stop damage from other pallets in the shipment.

Low-Quality Supplies

Another way many will try to save a few bucks is to reuse supplies. While this works for a time and is encouraged in many situations, pallets and boxes can only be reused so many times before they must be replaced. Continuing to use worn or damaged pallets that have jagged edges and/or protruding nails can lead to injury or product damage.