Pallet Shipping Made Simple

What Is Pallet Shipping?

Pallets are the most common method of packing in freight transport. Pallet shipping is often an ideal solution, whether you’re moving many items in one shipment or one bulky item. Pallets are easy to load and offload and, when properly packed, are secure and safe for many items. Shipping a pallet is also an efficient method of transport as the standardized, uniform sizes allow maximum usage of space in a trailer.

How Much Does Shipping a Pallet Cost?

Pallet shipping costs depend on several factors, so it varies greatly. A list of these factors below should give you an idea of how pricing is worked out.

• Distance. How far a pallet travels impacts, the fuel used and, over greater distances, overnight stops for the driver or processing at a secondary transport hub. In addition, shipping overseas incurs extra customs checks and paperwork costs. So a short in-state journey within the U.S. will cost significantly less than shipping a pallet to Europe or Asia.
• Timing. If your shipment needs to happen quickly, it will cost more as a dedicated vehicle is likely required, rather than waiting to fill a truck headed in the same direction. Therefore, planning your shipment in advance is a good idea to keep your pallet shipping cost down.
• Pallet Size. Most pallets are a standard 48″ x 40″ and incur standard shipping fees. However, custom pallets are made to order if your items are substantial or have an awkward shape. These items will incur additional charges as they may not fit into a trailer as efficiently. Discussing your pallet size in advance with your carrier is recommended.
• Pickup and Delivery Locations. If your pallet needs collecting from an urban area or a busy industrial estate, it’s likely to cost less. Equally, remote locations are more expensive for pickups and deliveries because some places, for example, in Alaska, require additional services, such as ferries, planes, and toll roads, to collect your items. All pricing is discussed upfront, and you will not be charged hidden fees.

Why Use Ship Smart to Ship a Pallet?

At Ship Smart, we have a record of pallet shipping that goes back over thirty years, with a team of professionals who know precisely what our customers expect. Our customer support is top-quality, and we have the testimonials to prove it! So no matter what type of cargo you need to move, when it comes to shipping a pallet, Ship Smart has all the expertise you need.

The Ship Smart Pallet Shipping Process

The Ship Smart system for shipping a pallet is straightforward and fast. Here’s a quick guide to our process to show how easy it is to book pallet shipping with us.

• Get an Estimate. You can contact us anytime online for an estimate. However, for the best prices and the latest offers for non-standard pallet shipping, including custom pallet sizes, it’s best to talk to one of our helpful sales staff.
• Pickup. Once you have your estimate, contact us for your paperwork electronically or in writing. Once you’ve filled it in and returned it to us, our warehouse manager will contact you, usually within 48 hours, to schedule your pickup appointment. Your appointment should occur during a two to a four-hour window between Monday and Friday. We offer Saturday pickups from some locations, but this comes at an extra cost.
• Packing and palletization. If you don’t have the facility or know how to palletize your items, don’t worry, our team of experts can handle that for you. Once your items are loaded onto our trucks, they’re taken to our warehouse and professionally packed and palletized, ensuring everything arrives at its destination in one piece. For your peace of mind, Ship Smart also provides a full replacement insurance policy that covers your items from start to finish.
• Shipping. Due to the large volume, we ship with America’s best trucking companies; we can offer some of the best discounted rates on the market. We have a dedicated representative with each carrier to ensure all your needs are met and everything runs smoothly.
• Delivery. As with every stage of our pallet shipping process, delivery options are customized to your needs. We offer curbside delivery, where the pallet is delivered in its entirety to the curbside, or we can provide insider delivery, where our team will unpack everything and deliver items individually inside the home.

Ship Your Pallets With Ship Smart

With decades of experience and a team of experts you can trust with your shipment, Ship Smart is the ideal choice for your pallet shipping needs. We provide transparent, up-front quotations, and our pallet shipping costs are highly-competitive. Use our contact form to send your inquiry, or give us a call today to discuss your pallet shipping requirements.