New pallets built to a spec sheet
A new pallet is built from all-new lumber, usually to a spec sheet, and has never been shipped on. The sheet names the size, the deck boards, the fasteners, the entry and the load.
When new beats used
Used stock is sorted from what has shipped before, so you pick from what exists. A new pallet is built to what you need. It is the answer when a part is heavy, when a customer sets a spec, when a pallet has to be clean for the first use, or when the size is not one that turns up in a used stack. A Detroit machine shop making parts that go to a defense program, or a supplier whose customer prints the pallet on a drawing, are the usual cases.
What goes on the spec sheet
| Line | Say | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Length by width in inches, length first | The footprint decides the racks, the trailer pattern and the truck count. Sizes |
| Type | Stringer or block | A block pallet enters from any side and usually carries more. Types |
| Entry | Two-way or four-way | Tight docks want four-way. Two-way and four-way |
| Deck boards | Number, width and thickness of the top and bottom boards | Small parts and boxes need tight Deck coverage; chunky loads can have gaps. |
| Fasteners | Nail type and pattern, or screws | It sets how well a board holds under a loaded fork. |
| Load | Rated dynamic load and static load | A standard 48 x 40 wood pallet is rated at about 1 short ton dynamic and 3 short tons static; say what yours must carry. |
| Treatment | Heat treated and stamped, or not | Export crates need it. Domestic loads usually do not. HT and ISPM 15 |
A worked example, not an offer
A buyer ships castings that weigh 2,400 pounds a pallet. They write: 48 x 45, block pallet, four-way, seven top boards and five bottom boards, nailed, rated for 2,400 pounds dynamic, heat treated and stamped, bought in batches of 200. That is a clear spec. It leaves nothing for the builder to guess. The same words work for any load.
What to leave off
- Brand names of a pallet builder, unless the customer requires one.
- A single number with no unit. "Heavy duty" is not a load rating.
- Anything you do not know. Say so; a good request can end with a question.
If a Combo would meet the spec at lower cost, the request can say that too. See Combo pallets.
Questions about new builds
How do I write a spec?
Size, deck board count and thickness, stringer or block build, entry type, fastener type, and whether the lumber is heat-treated.
How long does a custom run take?
That depends on the builder and the volume.
When is new worth it?
When a load is heavy, a program is long, or a size is rare.
A drawing beats a description
A sketch with dimensions answers questions that a paragraph cannot. Attach one if you have it. A photo of an existing pallet with a tape measure laid across it also works.
Make the request
New or custom: name the size, the entry you need and the load, and attach the spec in your own words.