{"id":3388,"date":"2019-09-30T12:05:13","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T19:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freightera.com\/blog\/?p=3388"},"modified":"2026-01-27T07:21:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T15:21:02","slug":"pallet-shipping-in-15-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freightera.com\/blog\/pallet-shipping-in-15-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"Ship a Pallet in 15 Easy Steps: A Beginners’ Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Ship a Pallet Step-by-Step: Choose the Pallet Type & Size, Package & Prepare Your Pallet for Shipping<\/h2>\n

You\u2019re new to pallet shipping, and want to save time and money by doing things yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, where do you start?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s a ton of information on the Internet, but it\u2019s all over the place, with a ton of complicated freight jargon you\u2019re not familiar with. You\u2019ve also heard horror stories from colleagues about their pallets breaking down, shipments getting damaged, and carriers refusing their improperly packaged freight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You want to do it, do it right, and do it right the first time. We get that.<\/span><\/p>\n

And we’ve got your back. This guide for pallet shipping is designed for beginners but still sharp enough to be useful to veterans. Everything you need to know is here, along with useful visuals.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Our contact info is at the bottom of the post<\/strong>, in case you have any questions after reading.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s begin!<\/span><\/p>\n

1. What is a pallet?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A pallet is a flat structure made of wood, plastic, composite, or metal, on which freight is secured for shipping<\/strong>. It has both a top and a bottom deck, and its raised construction allows the forks of a pallet jack or forklift to slide under the pallet in order to move it.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

2. What is the difference between a pallet and a skid?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The main difference between a pallet vs. a skid is that a pallet has both a top and a bottom deck, while a skid only has a top deck.<\/strong> Pallets are usually used for transportation of freight, while skids are mainly used for storage.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/a><\/p>\n

3. How many types of pallets are there?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Based on the pallet style, we can differentiate between these two main pallet types<\/a>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Stringer pallets<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  2. \n

    Block (or deck board) pallets<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Stringer pallets<\/strong><\/em><\/a> have three parallel pieces of wood which support the boards of wood. They\u2019re also called 2-way pallets<\/strong>\u00a0because the forks of a forklift or a pallet jack can only pick them up from two different sides:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"Stringer<\/a><\/p>\n

    Block (deck board) pallets<\/strong><\/em> are 4-way pallets: they can be picked up from all sides<\/strong>. Blocks of wood on the middle of each edge and on the sides provide more support from the platform, which makes this type suitable for heavier shipments:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"Block<\/a><\/p>\n

    There are many subcategories within these two categories.<\/strong> We can differentiate between these pallet types<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      Double Face Pallets<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
    2. \n

      Single-Wing Pallet<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
    3. \n

      Double Wing Pallets<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
    4. \n

      Solid Deck Pallets<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
    5. \n

      Flush Pallets<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
    6. \n

      Non-Reversible Pallets<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
    7. \n

      Reversible Pallets<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \"Double<\/a><\/h4>\n

      \"Single<\/a>\"Double<\/a><\/p>\n

      \"Solid<\/a>\"Flush<\/a>\"Non-reversible<\/a>\"Reversible<\/a><\/p>\n