FAQ
Pallet questions, answered
Short answers to the questions buyers and sellers ask most, each with a link to the page that goes deeper.
01 Words we use
- Skid
- Another word for a pallet, common on Pittsburgh docks and in purchase orders.
- GMA pallet
- The 48 x 40 inch stringer pallet, the North American default.
- HT
- Heat treated, the treatment code stamped in the ISPM 15 mark.
- Stringer
- A long timber under the deck. PHS describes pallets with three or four stringers beneath several deck boards.
- Deck board
- A top or bottom board. PHS gives the GMA pallet's deck boards as 3.25 inches wide and 5/16 inch thick.
- Dunnage
- Loose wood used to brace freight inside a container. It needs the ISPM 15 treatment as well and may carry the letters DUN.
- EUR pallet
- The stamped European pallet. A EUR 1 measures 800 x 1,200 mm and weighs 20 to 25 kg.
- Consumer Brands Association
- The former Grocery Manufacturers Association. It promoted the 48 x 40 pallet in the 1960s and no longer maintains pallet specifications.
02 Before you ask
- Check the guide for the topic.
- Have the size, build, grade and count ready.
- Photograph a stack if you are selling or clearing.
03 Short answers worth knowing
- A pallet's grade is a convention, not a standard, so describe what you need in words and pictures.
- Treatment and a mark go together; one without the other is not enough for export.
04 Numbers people ask for
| Question | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| GMA pallet deck area | About 13.3 sq ft | Interlake Mecalux |
| Pallets in a 53-ft trailer | 26 to 30 | Interlake Mecalux |
| Heat treatment core temperature | 56 C for 30 minutes | Wikipedia |
| Moisture below which mould will not grow | 20% | Pallet Enterprise |
| Pallets made in the US each year | About 500 million | Wikipedia |
Q Questions
How much weight can a 48x48 pallet hold?
A wood GMA-class pallet is typically rated about 2,000 to 2,800 lb dynamic and 2,500 to 4,600 lb static. The rating of a particular 48 x 48 depends on its build. See the weight guide.
What is the difference between a block pallet and a stringer pallet?
A block pallet has blocks and takes forks on all four sides, and a stringer pallet has long timbers and is usually two-way. See block or stringer.
Do I need heat treated pallets to ship to Canada?
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. Confirm before you ship. See export.
How do I tell if a pallet is heat treated?
Look for the ISPM 15 mark with the code HT on a stringer or block. See the HT mark.
What is the difference between grade A and grade B pallets?
Grade A has had the fewest repairs: none in common trade use, and only minor stringer repairs in Millwood's A band, so say which scale you mean. Grade B has replaced deck boards, plates or plugs. See grades.
Can I sell CHEP or other pooled pallets?
No. They belong to the pool. See pooled pallets.
How much are used pallets worth?
It depends on size, grade, count and mix. See what makes a pallet worth something.
Who picks up used pallets in Pittsburgh?
Haulers, junk-removal services and recyclers do. See clearing a stack.
What size pallet do drums and IBC totes go on?
A square 48 x 48 in a block build is the usual choice. See drums and totes.
Why do pallets go mouldy in storage?
Because the wood stays damp. Below 20% moisture it will not support mould. See mould and moisture.
Can I phone?
The only contact is the form and info@pittsburghpalletco.com.
Where do I start?
Pick the page that matches your freight, or open the form.
Src Sources
Req Ask a question
Say what you need or what you have. The form is short, and the optional second step takes the details.