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When Does Pallet Shipping Make Sense?

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When Does Pallet Shipping Make Sense?

Are you pallet shipping your freight? Should you be? Here are some instances where utilizing shipping pallets and appropriate packing techniques could be beneficial.

You’re Making the Jump to LTL Freight

Pallets are pretty much a must for LTL shipping, so if you’re thinking of switching from FTL or parcel shipping and aren’t using pallets exclusively now, it’s may be time to get on board. Shipments must be easy to load and unload, and you’ve got to be able to keep your freight separated so that it makes it to its intended destination intact and on time.

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Managed Logistics That Drives Performance

BlueGrace leverages decades of logistics experience to execute managed freight with precision. Our centralized systems provide real-time visibility, enforce disciplined cost controls, and give shippers accountable oversight at every step. Dedicated operations teams ensure global shipments are coordinated efficiently, reliably, and with complete transparency.

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What Our Clients Are Saying

Our clients consistently highlight the reliability, transparency, and cost-saving impact of partnering with BlueGrace. From small businesses to large enterprises, companies across the country trust our team to manage their LTL shipments efficiently, ensuring on-time delivery and reducing freight expenses. These testimonials reflect not just satisfaction with our services, but confidence in a logistics partner that understands their unique shipping challenges.

Sarah Thompson
Operations Manager, GreenLeaf Supplies

“BlueGrace has completely transformed the way we handle LTL shipments. Their team helped us reduce freight costs by 12% while improving delivery times, and the visibility into every shipment gives us peace of mind. They truly act as an extension of our operations team.”

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David Ramirez
CEO, Horizon Electronics

“We rely on BlueGrace for all of our nationwide LTL shipments. Their personalized support and intelligent routing solutions have made our supply chain much more efficient. The real-time tracking and proactive communication set them apart from any other provider we’ve worked with.”

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Emily Chen
Logistics Coordinator, Summit Retailers

“Partnering with BlueGrace has been a game-changer. Their team understands our business needs, provides cost-effective solutions, and ensures every shipment arrives on time. We finally have a freight partner we can trust, and it shows in our operational performance.”

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Pallet Problems?

Proper pallet shipping can reduce damage, lower freight costs, and prevent costly reclassification fees. Speaking with a freight expert helps ensure your freight is packed, secured, and classified correctly before it ever leaves the dock.

Speak to an expert today!

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When Does Pallet Shipping Make Sense? (Cont.)

You Need to Speed Up Loading

It’s a lot faster to load up a pallet into a trailer than it is to load up a pallet’s worth of boxes. If you need to improve load time (or unload time), pallet shipping may be a viable answer. A trailer full of stable pallets can often be loaded in just a few minutes. You’ll spend a little more time palletizing freight, but with the addition of other benefits of pallet shipping, it may just be worth it.

You’re Looking to Improve Customer Relationships

Freight that’s easy to unload, arrives intact, and can be easily moved around a warehouse so that it can be unpacked where it’s most convenient may be a great way to improve your relationships with customers. Better yet, you can work with your customers to learn about their processes so that you can load and pack pallets in a way that makes things easier on their end.

Your Freight is Unloaded by Appointment

If you ship a lot of freight that’s unloaded by appointment, pallets can really help speed up the process, saving drivers, warehouses, and retailers time and money. If you have multiple deliveries on a single trailer, the time saved in unloading can help the next delivery get to its destination faster. You may find that your easy-to-unload freight gets quicker attention despite a set appointment time, as well.

Your Freight is Easily Damaged

If your freight is relatively fragile or you’re incurring more than your fair share of costs from damaged freight, well-packed pallets might be the answer. Freight may incur less damage during loading, shipment, unloading, and while it sits idle if it’s packed carefully on a pallet. Palleted freight tends to be easier to strap down in a trailer, as well

There are several potential benefits to pallet shipping, and your business may wish to use this shipping method for any number of reasons. If you’re considering shaking up your supply chain, contact Blue Grace for an insight into improving efficiency.

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Freight will always involve risk. The difference is whether that risk is managed or absorbed.BlueGrace helps companies move freight with greater confidence, clearer visibility, and disciplined cost control.Request a Freight Assessment or speak with a Managed Logistics Expert to evaluate how your freight strategy can perform better under real-world conditions.

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10 Pallet Packing FAQs

Proper pallet packing helps prevent damage and ensures stability during transport. Best practices include using boxes suited to your product’s weight, placing heavier items on the bottom, stacking boxes directly over each other for support, and securing everything with straps and stretch wrap. Experts at BlueGrace Logistics can guide shippers on optimal pallet packing to reduce freight damage and improve transport reliability.

You should stack boxes directly on top of each other so that the corners line up and create structural support. Avoid overhanging boxes or irregular patterns, as these increase the risk of tipping or damage. Logistics professionals from BlueGrace emphasize consistent stacking to build stable and secure pallets.

Slip sheets are placed between boxes or between boxes and the pallet to spread weight evenly and improve crush resistance. This supports freight and increases stability during handling. BlueGrace Logistics recommends slip sheets for heavier or uneven loads to help maintain pallet integrity and avoid costly damage in transit.

Freight should always be entirely on the pallet’s surface—nothing should hang over the edge. Overhanging boxes are more likely to get damaged, caught, or shifted in transit. BlueGrace Logistics advises shippers to check pallet dimensions and adjust pack size accordingly to prevent overhang and avoid carrier handling issues.

Use strong straps, bands, and stretch wrap to secure freight to the pallet. Wrapping the pallet tightly and using strapping helps keep boxes stationary during movement and handling. BlueGrace professionals often recommend strapping combined with wrap for the strongest hold, especially for long hauls.

Choose boxes with compression strength appropriate for your product weight. Durable, high-quality boxes reduce the risk of crushing under load. Shippers working with BlueGrace Logistics benefit from guidance on selecting box types that balance protection and cost for palletized freight.

Ensure pallets are labeled clearly with the consignee’s information, contact details, and any necessary handling instructions. Effective labelling helps carriers process shipments correctly and reduces the chance of misdelivery. Shippers can get labeling guidance from BlueGrace Logistics to help ensure compliance with carrier standards.

Well-prepared pallets are less likely to incur damage fees, reclassification charges, or handling costs due to instability. By following packing best practices, shippers can control costs. BlueGrace Logistics works with customers to identify preparation steps that help reduce cost impacts from poor packaging.

Distribute heavier boxes toward the bottom and center of the pallet, and fill gaps with cushioning to prevent shifting. Even weight distribution increases stability and reduces risk of tipping. BlueGrace Logistics highlights weight distribution as a key factor in safe, cost-effective pallet shipping.

If a location lacks dock access or forklifts, you may need a liftgate service for pickup. Ensuring this is noted on the shipment avoids delays or unsafe handling. BlueGrace Logistics can help include equipment needs when booking freight to ensure a smooth pickup and delivery process.