The Proper Way to Prepare Products When Shipping by Pallet

Updated on March 21, 2023

When it comes to shipping your products, placing them on a pallet can make them easier to handle, especially if you are shipping them through air freight services. In addition, placing your items on a pallet means that the goods don’t have to be touched while the pallet is being moved. This is a great way to reduce the chances of items getting damaged in transit.

While pallets can be a great choice when it comes to shipping your product from one destination to another, there are some things you need to consider doing. If you don’t prep your freight correctly, the risk of something happening during transit increases. Thus, there are some mistakes to avoid when getting pallets ready for air freight services.

Watch Pallet Overhang

When you are placing your products onto the pallet, you want to make sure that they stay within the borders. If they hang over the edge, this increases the chances of something bad happening. As carriers place your pallets into the plane, to maximize space, they will place pallets as close to each other as they possibly can. If your products are outside of the pallet footprint, they can be crushed or broken when other freight is placed next to them.

To ensure that your products don’t get destroyed during the shipping process, you may have to separate them onto numerous pallets. While this may seem like an expensive solution, keep in mind that it will probably be more cost-effective than having to pay for damaged or broken goods. ULD storage systems are also an attractive option if you’re looking for a more efficient use of space.

Keep Products Above the Deck Board

In addition to ensuring that your products don’t hang over the side of the pallet, you also want to make sure they don’t slip between the boards and dangle underneath the pallet. This is where the forklift goes to move this item from one place to another, and any product that is in this area could be destroyed by the forks.

To prevent items from falling into the cracks, you need to make sure you get pallets with narrow deck boards. It’s also a good idea not to place box edges or corners directly over the cracks, as this will reduce the chances of them slipping through.

Use the Right Pallet

There are many different types of pallets available. To ensure that your products are safe and easy to load by air freight services, you need to invest time in finding the one that will work for you. You might consider getting pallets that have bottom deck boards, as this gives them maximum stability. You also have the option of getting four-way pallets. This pallet can be picked up from any side, which could be the best way to minimize damage and mishandling in tight quarters.

Another consideration you need to take into account is the rated capacity of the pallet. If a pallet breaks while being loaded, this can damage your products or cause a delay in shipping. Since either of these can be costly, make sure the pallet you choose is rated to hold the weight of your items and inspect the boards for any cracks or damage to ensure they won’t break when the pallet is moved.

Shipping your products by air is a great way to get them where they need to go in a time-saving and cost-effective manner. To ascertain that they reach their other place in one piece, these are all things you’ll have to do as prep work. 

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