Pallets by the trailer load
Buying by the trailer means one size and one grade in volume. A 53 ft trailer holds 26 to 30 standard pallets on its floor in a single layer, so the numbers add up quickly.
What a trailer actually holds
The drawing shows 30 pallets of 48 x 40 loaded turned, with the 48-inch side across the trailer. Loaded straight, with the 48-inch side along it, the same trailer holds 26. For 48 x 45 the counts are 26 straight and 28 turned. These come from a trailer floor taken as 636 by 100 inches and one layer of pallets, with no allowance for load bars, doors or weight limits. The trailer guide shows the working and lets you try it.
| Size | Straight | Turned |
|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 | 26 | 30 |
| 48 x 45 | 26 | 28 |
Weight is not the limit, but it adds up
An empty 48 x 40 GMA pallet typically weighs 33 to 49 pounds. Multiply that by the 26 to 30 on a floor and you get roughly 860 to 1,470 pounds of pallet, before any stacking and before a single carton goes on. That is well inside a trailer's capacity, which is why a buy by the trailer is more about the count and the size than about the weight.
What makes a bulk buy easier
- One size. A trailer of 48 x 40 is simpler to build than half 48 x 40 and half 48 x 45, and the same goes for the dock that receives it.
- One grade. A load of Grade B keeps the repairs consistent. Say whether a few Grade A mixed in would matter.
- A rhythm. Once, monthly or every week. A steady run is a candidate for a dock program.
- A way in. Tell us if the receiving dock is tight or has set receiving hours, since that shapes how a trailer comes in.
Used, combo or new in volume
A bulk buy can be any of the three. Used keeps the unit cost down, Combo gives a more uniform pallet from recycled and new lumber, and new fits a spec you have to hold. If any of the loads are going abroad, ask about heat treatment in the same request.
Who buys this way in Metro Detroit
Purchasing leads at plants that ship parts every day, and operations leads at 3PL and cross-dock buildings near the airport. Their common thread is a dock that uses the same pallet again and again. If that is you, the request is the same as for a single load, with a schedule on top.
Questions about truckloads
How many pallets is a truckload?
On a 53 ft trailer taken as 636 by 100 inches, one layer of 48 x 40 pallets is 26 straight or 30 turned. Stacked pallets raise the number, subject to the trailer's height and weight limits.
Can I mix sizes in a truckload?
You can, but each size lays out differently, and a mixed load wastes floor.
Who unloads?
Say whether you have a forklift and a dock. A driver needs to know before arriving.
Weight limits
A trailer is limited by weight as well as floor space. Pallets are light when empty, so a full trailer of them usually reaches the height limit before the weight limit. Heavier stock changes that.
Delivery window
For a full trailer, state the dock's hours and whether it has a leveler, since a floor-loaded trailer needs a forklift to unload.
Make the request
Buying in volume: name the size, the grade and the schedule you would want.