Want to Keep Your Shipping Secure? 8 Steps to Avoid your Pallets Getting Damaged During Transit

It is estimated that 11% of pallets get damaged in transit each year. With more than 31 million pallets transported via pallet networks in the UK in 2021, this accounts for around 3.4 million damaged pallets.

Maintaining the safety and security of your freight during transit is of paramount importance – after all, there’s no point in sending items if they don’t arrive in the same condition in which they left your premises. Damaged freight not only wastes time and money and causes inconvenience to you and your customer, but it can also harm your reputation. 

Competent, conscientious delivery companies like First4Logistics obviously play an important part in ensuring safe delivery.  However, as the consignor, you also have a responsibility to give your freight the best possible chance of arriving in one piece. Preparing your pallet correctly for transit can massively improve the chances of avoiding damage and loss.

Here are 8 steps to successfully secure your freight and avoid damage in transit:

1. Package and label your goods correctly – Use adequate packaging materials, such as heavy-duty cardboard boxes, and insert cushioning material to protect your goods and avoid movement within the boxes themselves. Label packaging appropriately, with its contents, destination and handling instructions, such as fragile, perishable item or handle with caution. This will ensure it is handled appropriately and less likely to be misplaced. These labels should be clearly visible on all sides of the pallet. Correct and complete documentation will also help for a smooth transit.
2. Check the pallet is functional – Choosing a sturdy and durable pallet is essential. A damaged pallet loses its full load capacity and may not have a flat foundation, meaning it is more likely to topple. Wooden pallets need to be stored in dry conditions to keep from cracking, rotting or oxidising. There are various materials of pallets, including wood, metal and plastic, so choose the one that works best for you. You should also ensure the pallet has space for the forks of a forklift driver, to transport it on and off the lorry.
3. Choose the right size pallet – If your pallet is larger than the products placed on top, it can cause the plastic wrap to tear. If the pallet is too small for the products, your goods will overhang, which causes the pallet to be unstable and puts your goods at risk of getting caught on other pallets and becoming damaged. Although, the standard pallet size is usually appropriate for most freight, if your goods are unusually shaped, it is essential to use a pallet that fits accordingly.
4. Stack the freight properly – Start with heavier goods at the bottom and lighter at the top to avoid top-heavy freight. Distribute goods evenly across the whole pallet and to the edge to avoid overhang and an unstable load. Using special techniques for stacking, such as interlocking, will warrant a more stable structure.
5. Do not overfill – Ensure you do not surpass the weight limit of the pallet as this could cause breakages to the pallet, and then to the goods themselves. Make sure to double check the pallet’s integrity after packing, as well as before.
6. Pack your goods tightly – Packing your goods tightly reduces chance of movement, and therefore damage, during transit. For extra security, ensure your shrink wrap is tightly applied, with a few even layers, across the whole load.
7. Add protective layers and covers – Add corrugated card between layers of goods to increase strength by distributing weight across a larger surface area. Externally, corner and edge protectors strengthen vertical stacking and offer additional protection from other pallets, as do cardboard sleeves. Using plastic wrap across the top prevents moisture and dirt passing through to your goods or weakening the overall structure. Pallet caps (or ‘do not stack’ cones) will stop forklift drivers from stacking other palletised freight on top of your pallet. 
8. Load pallets safely – If you are shipping your own cargo, ensure that pallets are loaded without freight stacked on top of them. If you are utilising a delivery company like First4Logistics, check the load before it leaves your premises.

Ensure you share these tips with your team so that they are all educated in best practices for stacking a pallet for optimum security.

At First 4 Logistics, our experienced team is trained to handle all deliveries with care. We provide industry leading nationwide pallet delivery that is quick, reliable, and cost-effective via the Pall-Ex distribution network. To discuss your shipping needs, complete a form today, or give our friendly team a call on 01273 458620.