Pallets are flat structures used in cargo ships to support goods or containers, allowing for efficient stacking and storage.
They are essential to facilitate the movement of large quantities of goods.
Pallets enable supply chain operators to transport multiple goods in a single trip using handling equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks.
What is Palletizing in Shipping?
Palletizing involves arranging huge quantities of identical items on a pallet in a manner that ensures stability and preserves the integrity of products during shipping.
The items are stacked on the basis of their weight and in a pattern that promotes secure transportation.
It eases the handling and storage of cargo on ships.
Why Are Pallets Needed In Shipping?
Pallets ensure adequate support and stability for the goods being shipped. They are essential components that provide efficient and secure transportation of goods.
Pallets are subject to regulations set by various organizations, which govern their sizes and sanitation standards.
Heavy volumes of goods can be easily forklifted with the help of a pallet, reducing the time taken to transport goods.
They also protect personnel from workplace injuries resulting from lifting goods manually.
How to Palletize a Pallet and the Cargo?
These are the steps to palletize a pallet and cargo:
- Choose the right pallet size to ensure the shipment is evenly spread on the pallet board.
This facilitates effortless loading and unloading of the consignments.
When selecting a pallet, ensure it is sturdy and of the right size to accommodate the cargo.
Secure goods by wrapping them with high-quality packing materials such as durable shrink wrap and corrugated cardboard inserts to fill empty spaces in boxes.
Label the shipping freight properly for easy identification and to reduce the chances of errors or misplacement.
What is Floor Loading Vs. Palletizing?
What Does Non-palletized Mean?
Non-palletized cargoes are shipments that cannot be transported using standard pallets because of their unique size and shape.
Such loads include machinery, carpentry pieces, valves, actuators and work vehicle tracks.
These items either exceed standard packing dimensions or are transported without additional packaging.
Establishing suitable load units that can be securely fastened and easily traced is essential for safe transportation.
What is a Palletization Charge?
To palletize the cargo, truckers must bring their own pallets to exchange with the carrier's pallets during pickup.
The palletization charge is imposed by carriers when truckers cannot provide pallets for exchange during cargo pickup.
This charge is the compensation for the carrier to retain their pallets. The palletization charge is calculated per-pallet basis and varies depending on the carrier.
The fee varies from $35 to $75 per pallet, depending on the ocean freight carrier's terminal (CFS). It also includes the cost of a certified pallet that complies with ISPM15.
Package Vs. Pallet
A package is a basic cardboard box preferred to ship a single parcel.
The cardboard box or the suitcase is wrapped in a plastic film before shipping.
It is preferred for standard shipping.
A pallet is a cost-effective way to transport numerous goods to a location.
Palletized parcels are shipped together, and the chances of getting separated or lost during transit are minimal.
Loose Cargo Vs. Palletized Cargo
Loose cargo refers to goods that do not need packaging or cannot be put in a container due to their size or shape.
It is directly loaded onto vehicles and transported using specialized trailers.
Less-than-container (LCL) shipments are palletized and transported in containers.
Palletized cargo refers to stacking cargo on pallets to ship them from one place to another.
It offers advantages such as enhanced handling convenience, faster loading, and improved protection.
How to Palletize a Shipment?
Appropriate palletization is crucial to prevent damage during the shipping process.
The following are techniques to palletize a shipment effectively:
Wrap the cargo with multiple layers of shrink wrap to enhance the strength and holding capacity, making it less likely for the cargo to shift or sustain damage.
Place the heaviest cargo at the pallet's bottom to minimize vibration damage. All items must be adequately packaged and padded to withstand vibrations.
Reinforce cargo security by creating a protective wall around the goods. This can be achieved using spare cardboard or other suitable materials.
Palletizing Process
Palletizing integrates functions like weighing, sorting, counting, labeling, packaging, and metal detection. While some of these tasks may be handled by different equipment, the primary objective is to convert multiple products into a cohesive unit load.
This involves various processes:
Filling the boxes with cushioning materials is crucial to keep the goods safe. Wrapping the products individually also helps.
Stacking the boxes to avoid overlapping the edges of the pallet. Evenly distribute the cargo to prevent shifting.
Optimizing space utilization and compatibility with the palletizer type are key aspects to be considered while selecting pallets.
Palletizing strategies may differ from product to product. Unconventionally shaped industrial equipment and components may need extra precaution and secure strapping to the pallet.
Palletizing Duties
Palletizers must follow their supervisor's instructions and ensure palletizing operations run smoothly. Their roles and responsibilities include:
Operating forklifts to transfer pallets from the storage facility to workstations.
Installing pallets to ensure structural integrity and safety.
Arranging boxes onto pallets based on size, weight and fragility.
Operating digital equipment to load or unload trucks with palletized freight.
Documenting important information, such as weight, dimensions and fragility, about palletized shipment for monitoring.
Types of Pallets
Pallets are made of materials like wood, plastic, metals and plywood. The different types of pallets include:
Block Pallets:
Easily accessed by forklifts from all four angles.
Materials such as wood, plastic or plywood are used to make them. They come with or without bottom boards. They are available in different configurations.
Stringer Pallets:
Designed with stringers, which are the boards running between the top and bottom deck boards.
These stringers provide support for the load placed on the pallet. The two main types of stringer pallets include two-way and four-way stringer pallets.
Double-face Pallets:
Have decks on both the top and bottom surfaces. The bottom tier enhances the pallet's strength and ensures the weight of the load is evenly distributed. They are divided into reversible and non-reversible categories.
Benefits of Palletizing
The palletizing process is highly valued as it offers the following benefits:
- It is easier to transfer goods without depending on labor.
- It facilitates the optimization of operational flow in a facility.
- It reduces the damage to goods while shipping. Pallets can bear the weight of heavy goods, minimizing the risk of breaking.
- It is easier to keep track of products.
- It facilitates drainage and circulation while shipping. This helps improve the shelf-life of perishable goods.
Hazards of Palletizing
Handling pallets with utmost care and adhering to all safety standards is vital. Failure to handle pallets appropriately can lead to several hazards for workers, such as:
Injuries to workers while palletizing constitute a significant health hazard. It is crucial to source pallets from a trusted provider to prevent injuries.
Exceeding the weight limit or unevenly distributing the load on a pallet increases the chances of its toppling over and causing injuries.
Manual palletizing increases the chances of errors, leading to potential injuries.
Automating the palletizing process is highly recommended.
Inspect the pallets to remove pallet debris resulting from palletizing operations to prevent tripping hazards.
They can severely injure workers.
Palletizing Standards
Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) popularized the 1219 mm X 1107 mm with a capacity of 1000 kg as the standard size in the US.
How to Ship Freight Without a Pallet?
Following are the steps for shipping freight without a pallet:
- Initial step involves placing the heavier and average-size boxes at the base while stacking the wall of the freight.
- The middle and top sections can be filled with lighter boxes.
- Position tall and thin boxes on the sides.
- The remaining space can be occupied by small and light boxes to ensure that freight reaches the ceiling.
