Pallets are used in eCommerce logistics to make the delivery of consignments safer and more efficient. Therefore, properly shipping a pallet will help ensure your goods are delivered successfully and without headaches.
Here’s an easy brief guide on shipping a pallet for eCommerce in logistics adequately loaded and ready for shipping.
We pack your parcels for eCommerce in logistics carefully.
- Go for sturdy, intact boxes that can be stacked
- Assure the consignments are carefully packaged and packed to guard against shipping damage
- Cushion sharp edges or protrusions with additional padding
- Fill any leftover space with sufficient padding material
We seal each container.
- Ensure the shipping tape is at least three inches wide.
- Seal all seams and flaps if possible
Choose the right shipping pallet.
- Select a pallet suitable for a forklift, pallet jack, or hand truck
- Make sure the pallet is hefty and damage-free
- Select a pallet that’s at least (48″ x 40″) standard industry-size box-style
There are two main pallet types used in eCommerce logistics:
Stringer Pallets
Pallets made of stringer wood, also known as 2-way pallets, consist of three parallel pieces of wood. The forks of a forklift or pallet jack can pick them up from two different sides.
Deck board or block pallets
We reinforce Deck Board or Block Pallets with wooden blocks at the center of each edge and on the sides, allowing them to be picked up from every side, making them versatile 4-way pallets. It provides enough support for the platform for heavier shipments.
Plastic shipping pallets used in logistics for e-commerce
Plastic shipping pallets tend to be pricier and heavier than wood pallets, and their slippery surface can make it difficult to secure products. Some plastic pallets have a solid deck that helps protect the package container bottom from damage to forklift tine.
Load your pallet
- Place the heavier boxes at the bottom if different containers have various weights.
- Evenly stack the containers and avoid the area between them.
- Assure all containers fill the base of the pallet without overhanging.
- Ensure your shipment scales within the maximum size and weight restrictions. Check the Manufacturer’s Certification Stamp to ensure the contents’ weight must not exceed 50% of the final gross weight limit. We can add additional cardboard edge protectors or paperboards to the shipment, if necessary, to provide additional protection.
Wrap the pallet
- Use high-quality shrink wrap (70 gauge or comparable) (stretch wrap)
- Begin by wrapping around the bottom three times, encircling the lowest compartments.
- Wrap upwards, covering the previous layers in half with each pass.
- Wrap the top layer of containers three times, leaving a 3″ (8cm) excess over the top corners, much like the bottom.
- Securely fasten the load to the pallet by wrapping the straps down to the bottom containers and circling it around three times.
Clearly label your pallet shipment.
- First, be sure to remove labels and markings from previous shipments.
- Put the shipping label on the side of the pallet, making sure it’s visible with the sender and receiver information.
Securing a palletized load for consignments
Here are some stacking suggestions and principles to help you establish a sturdy, safe, and secure load:
Stacking tips for eCommerce logistics.
Column stacking
We arrange boxes or cartons in straight columns with no overlapping edges in a column-stacking arrangement. Column stacking, in most circumstances, promotes top-to-bottom compression. Use corrugated cushions – load protection pads – between the levels for added load stability.
Interlocking stacking
If the carton contents are more rigid, interlocking stacking is advantageous. Interlocking cartons can also help to improve stability. We stack boxes corner to corner and edge to edge using this approach for added strength.
Pallet loading tips.
Bands
Banding is the most common way of locking the bundled load to the pallet. The secret is to keep the banding close to the load. It helps to control damage, exposure, or breakage.
We band small loads that do not cover the entire surface of the pallet to the nearest deck boards of the load’s outer edge, not the pallet’s edge, to increase stability.
Load protectors
Load-protector pads help prevent damage to your shipment’s top and bottom layers. Protector pads also help to divide the weight of top-loaded freight.
Load protectors help to provide a level surface and offer additional protection from pallet nail tips. We use this approach also to keep containers from getting caught up in pallet board gaps
Edge boards
Edge boards, also known as angle boards, efficiently limit damage to the container’s edges, which form the load corners. It should run the entire length or depth of the stack to assist in unifying the load and boost vertical stacking strength.
Foam cushioning
With foam cushioning, density levels can vary. Therefore it’s essential to ensure the foam you use is dense enough to salvage your product. Testing the cushioning is preferable to guarantee it will meet shipping conditions.
Bracing
We brace rounded items that can move on a pallet base that’s forklift-accessible. The more significant the shipping weight, the more sturdy the load could be.
For efficient eCommerce logistics, Avoid the following:
Overhangs and Protrusions
The key to load safety and stability is uniformity. Never allow the loaded products to overhang the vertical limits of the pallet. Furthermore, it increases the risk of stabs, package rips, and product damage and can even reduce compaction strength by as much as 32 percent.
Pyramid Stacking
Pyramid stacking doesn’t have a level top load surface. Furthermore, you will not only limit the ability to maximize space or save shipping costs through stacking additional pallets, but also run the risk of additional damage through handling.
Make 6g your eCommerce logistics partner.
6g Logistics is the best eCommerce logistics service in Los Angeles. We provide warehousing and shipping solutions for eCommerce businesses. Therefore, don’t miss out on our quality 3PL logistics services any longer. Connect with 6g Logistics now and take advantage of the benefits of working with us!
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