1. Select the Correct Pallet
Choosing the right foundation is the first step in protecting your shipment.
✔ Correct Sizing & Fit: Ensure the pallet is large enough to prevent any overhang. All shipment pieces should sit comfortably within the pallet's edges.
✔ Structural Integrity: The pallet must be sturdy enough to support the total weight of the load.
✘ Never use a pallet with broken boards, cracks, or protruding nail heads, as these can damage your goods or injure handlers.
2. Stack Items Carefully
Proper stacking ensures the structural integrity of the entire unit and prevents the bottom layers from being crushed.
✔ Quality Materials: Use new cartons with sufficient burst strength to withstand stacking. Ensure all boxes are securely closed, stapled, or sealed.
✔ Column Stacking: Align boxes in columns, corner to corner, to provide the greatest stacking strength. The boxes should not extend past the pallet edges.
✔ Weight Distribution: Always place heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top.
✘ Do not pyramid the boxes. Keep the top layer flat to minimize the risk of damage and allow for easier handling.
3. Secure Your Shipment to the Pallet
A pallet is only effective if the goods are anchored securely to it.
✔ Protective Layers: Place a board or cardboard sheet at the base of the pallet to prevent smaller items from falling between the boards. Insert cardboard layers between levels of freight to absorb vibration and distribute weight evenly.
✔ Wrapping Technique: Using high-quality stretch wrap, start at the base and wrap around the pallet and the goods together to create a single unit.
- The "Blur" Rule: Apply enough layers so that the contents become blurry/obscured, but do not over-wrap to the point where the items inside are completely invisible.
- Full Coverage: Aim for at least five revolutions. Ensure you wrap across the top of the shipment and all the way down to include the pallet base.
✔ Extra Stability: For heavy or awkward items, we recommend using corner boards, banding, and strapping in addition to shrink wrap to prevent shifting or collapse.
Please Note: Ensure all packaging is secure and flush against the box. Loose wrapping or strapping may incur in additional charges.
4. Book and Label Your Shipment
To ensure a smooth delivery process for your business, once your pallet is securely and correctly packaged, you can obtain a shipping quote by entering the total weight of the pallet (including its contents) and its overall dimensions. To get a pallet quote, select the Pallet tab from the shipping calculator:
Make sure you select the service that best suits your requirements, including any additional options such as tail-lift services for locations without a loading dock or forklift.
Once you finalise the booking, you will receive the labels for your shipment. Correct labelling is vital to avoid delays and ensure your pallet reaches the right destination.
✔ Multi-Side Labelling: Apply a shipping label to each side and the top of every pallet in the shipment.
✔ Complete Information: Each label must include the full delivery address, postal code, and a contact telephone number. If a shipping label is available for your chosen pallet service, ensure it is printed and taped securely to the pallet.
5. Collection of Your Pallet
To ensure a problem-free pickup, please verify the following before the driver arrives:
✔ Vehicle Access: Pallets are collected by large trucks. Ensure your premises are easily accessible for heavy vehicles and have clear space for loading.
✔ Loading Equipment: Ensure you have the necessary equipment ready for safe pallet handling, such as a pallet jack or forklift. Unless specified within the service description, drivers generally do not carry this equipment, and it is the sender's responsibility to provide the required handling equipment.
✔ Be Ready:To prevent delays, all packaging and labeling must be completed before the driver arrives. The pallet should be positioned and ready for immediate collection to ensure the driver can stay on schedule.
Don't Let Shipping Become a Challenge.
We're Here to Assist!
At Interparcel, we believe in keeping a personal connection in everything we do.
If you have any enquiries, our friendly customer support team is ready to help by phone, live chat, or email!
Reach Out to Customer ServiceFAQs
When sending multiple boxes, is it better to use a pallet or individual parcels?
If you have a large number of boxes, it is often better to consolidate them onto a pallet. Sending many individual parcels can lead to waiting time fees if the driver takes longer to collect and scan each one. Using a pallet is faster for the courier and much safer for your goods since they stay together as one unit.
How do I correctly pack a pallet?
To pack a pallet correctly, start by placing a cardboard sheet at the base so items do not slip through the gaps. Pack your goods into individual boxes and stack them in straight columns, corner to corner, instead of a pyramid shape. Always place the heaviest items at the bottom to keep the load stable and make sure nothing hangs over the edges of the pallet. To secure your load, use high quality stretch wrap, starting at the base and wrapping around both the wooden pallet and the goods together to create one solid unit. Apply at least five full rotations, ensuring you wrap across the top and all the way down to the base. Use enough layers so the contents look blurry, but do not wrap them so much that they are completely hidden. Finally, you must apply a shipping label to the top and to each of the four sides. Make sure the labels include the full delivery address, postcode, and a contact phone number, and tape them on securely so the driver can easily see them from any angle.
What is the correct way to wrap a pallet?
Use high quality stretch wrap and start at the base, wrapping around both the pallet and the goods to turn them into a single unit. Use enough layers so the contents look blurry but are not completely hidden. Aim for at least five full rotations. For heavy or odd shaped items, you should also use straps or bands to give the load extra strength.
What is the most common pallet packing problem?
The most frequent issues are boxes hanging over the edges, uneven weight distribution, and incorrect measurements. If items hang over the side, they lose the protection of the pallet and are easily damaged. Another common mistake is placing heavy items on top, which makes the pallet top heavy and likely to tip over. Finally, estimating your dimensions instead of measuring from the widest points is a common error that can lead to additional charges.
How do I measure my pallet for a quote?
You need to measure the total length, width, and height from the widest points. This includes the pallet itself and any packaging that might stick out. Do not guess these numbers. When you book, make sure the total weight includes the weight of the timber pallet as well.
Do I need a forklift for my collection or delivery?
If you do not have a loading dock or a forklift at either address, you must select a service that includes a tail lift. If a tail lift is needed, please make sure it is selected for both the collection and the delivery to avoid any issues when the truck arrives.
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