Pallet Delivery versus Other Shipping Methods

There are many ways to get your items from your business to an Amazon Fulfillment centre. The most reliable option will depend on your shipping requirements. You probably won’t be pallet shipping your mum’s birthday card or sending fresh salad ingredients to your uncle who loves to cook by parcel. Engines spares however might best fit on a pallet, as the sturdy platform will keep your motor out of harm’s way. If ground shipping works for your business, than pallet shipping is one of the best ways to guarantee safe haul at an affordable price.

Not everyone is familiar with pallet shipping, procedure and packing requirements. So what allows this delivery method to be more effective than say boxing your items and renting a truck? Here’s a look at the advantages of pallet shipping.

Safe handling

You can’t throw a pallet around like you can a loose box, and there are some compelling reasons to be confident you’ll be shipping your items in the safest possible way. A pallet’s weight and short sturdy construction means little to no sliding during transit. Jack straps and/or plastic wrap shrink film will securely hold items up to 1000KG. Forklifts and pallet pumps keep your items upright during a truck change. Pallets are security with minimal movement.

Skid row

Pallets, like pieces in a game of Jenga, stack together to save space. If you are using several pallets, they pallets can be stacked. Traditional wooden pallets can be stacked 17 high to form a pallet tower, also called a ‘skid’. Plastic pallets have inserts that allow skids up to 53 pallets tall.

Maximising haulage per truck load

The tighter you fit pallets onto the truck bed the less they can slide and the more you save on shipping rounds. Likewise, tightly packed pallets means more goods per pallet. Fit boxes tightly, don’t leave spaces, be sensible and load heavy with bulky items onto the pallet first. Remember you want to get the most bang for your buck and that can only happen if you maximise the space you have available per truck.

Couriers can make your life easier

Pallet shipping is not something you have to go at alone. If you are new to pallet deliveries, the chances are that you won’t have pallets lying around. A courier might be able to offer you pallets for a minimal fee. You’ve already perused the internet and yellow pages in search of a courier, or if your business already demands regular shipments you are more than likely already paired up with a delivery service you trust. A good courier service can advise you on best routes and help you with requirements and regulations when shipping abroad – this will save you a lot of time and hassle.

Same day pick up

You may have just realised that some of the goods in your Amazon fulfillment centre haven’t gone out to the customer yet and you need those items to be delivered ASAP. Same day pick up services can give you piece of mind, knowing you’ll get those goods out the very same day. You’ll receive a tracking number and the rest can be dealt with by informing the customer of an order’s whereabouts or sharing the tracking details.

Choosing a good courier can make pallet shipping a cost-effective, safe and easy way to get your goods from A to Z. Of course effective delivery depends on what you’re sending and when you need it to arrive, but if you choose ground shipping, nearly anything can be sent by pallet. Just be sure to follow the rules on shipping dangerous goods.