06 Spec builder
Tell us the size, the build and the grade. We'll take it from there. Pick them on the nine-block grid below and the spec code, dimensions and typical ratings follow. The full builder has its own page.
48x48 / BLK / 4W / A / HT
- Size
- 48 x 48 in (1,219 x 1,219 mm)
- Deck area
- 16.0 sq ft
- Dynamic
- 2,000-2,800 lb (900-1,270 kg)
- Static
- 2,500-4,600 lb (1,100-2,100 kg)
- Block build: the blocks let forks in from all four sides, and it sits stiffer in a rack than a stringer pallet.
- Drums: a square deck such as 48 x 48 supports the round footprint better than a stretched 48 x 40, and a block build suits racked loads.
- Grade A: no repairs and none needed.
- HT: the wood core is held at 56 °C or more for 30 minutes and the pallet carries the ISPM 15 mark.
Ratings are typical for a wood GMA-class build from the trade sources listed below, not a guarantee. Ask for the rating your load needs by name.
07 Heavy loads
Western Pennsylvania ships dense goods: resin pellets, drummed chemicals, castings, bundled metal. A standard GMA pallet is rated for 2,000 to 2,800 lb dynamic and 2,500 to 4,600 lb static, and a reinforced wood build weighs 55 to 66 lb empty. Past those figures the size and the build have to change, not the number of stretch-wrap turns.
| Load | Size | Build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drums and IBC totes | 48 x 48 or 42 x 42 | Block, four-way | A square deck holds a round footprint evenly; blocks keep the deck stiff in a rack. |
| Bagged resin | 48 x 48 or 48 x 40 | Block or stringer, solid deck | Bags sag between gaps, so deck coverage matters more than the label. |
| Metal parts and bundles | 48 x 45 or 48 x 40 | Block, reinforced | Dense loads sit on the stiffest frame you can get, and the reinforced weight is 55 to 66 lb. |
| Cartons by the layer | 48 x 40 | Stringer | Nine 16 x 12 in boxes make one layer on a 48 x 40, which is why that size is the default. |
48 x 48, the square size · Drums and totes · Weight a pallet holds
08 Reading a grade
Grade A has had no repairs and needs none. Grade B has replaced deck boards, plates or plugs. Grade C looks rough, usually carries several repairs, and its deck boards may not be whole. Turn the pallet and switch grades to see where a plug or plate sits.
Grade A: no repairs, no plugs, deck boards whole.
09 By valley
Each stretch of road or river has its own docks. Pick the valley nearest your plant and read how its loads usually ride.
- Ohio valleyRiver plants and terminals downstream of the Point
- Allegheny valley and the cityProduce houses, kitchens and the Strip
- Airport and Parkway WestCargo ramps, parcel hubs and equipment dealers
- Parkway East and the TurnpikeIntermodal rail and office parks
- I-79 northNuclear engineering, coatings and safety equipment
- I-79 and I-70 southEnergy offices, bottling and light industry
- I-70 and the Turnpike eastParcel sorting, grocery distribution and retail
10 Sell or clear
Sorted 48 x 40 pallets in good condition are the stack with resale value. Mixed piles, broken boards and odd sizes may only need clearing. Pooled pallets, the rented, colour-marked kind, belong to the pool and are not the shipper's to sell. Send a photo and a rough count and say which one you have.
11 Going overseas
- ISPM 15 is the international rule for wood packaging in trade.
- The wood is debarked, then heat treated to 56 °C at its core for 30 minutes.
- The pallet carries the HT mark; ask for it on the request.
- Wood packaging from the continental United States is currently exempt from Canada's policy D-98-08, pending a phased move to full ISPM 15.
12 Guides contents
- Weight a pallet holdsStatic and dynamic ratings, and what changes them01
- Empty pallet weightWhat the pallet itself weighs02
- Block vs stringerWhich pallet does your load need?03
- Reading the HT markThe ISPM 15 stamp, piece by piece04
- Plugs and platesReading a repair05
- Mould and moistureWhy pallets go mouldy06
- Drums and totesPallets for drums and IBC totes07
- What pallets costWhat drives the price08
- Export from PittsburghHT and ISPM 15 for overseas loads09
13 Request a price
Buying to a spec, selling surplus or clearing a stack: one short form covers all three.