Pallet Types
Wooden Stringer Pallet
Wooden Block Pallet
Stringer
A solid or notched beam (usually a 2” x 4”) to support the top and bottom deck boards. A pallet can have from 2 up to 5 stringers per pallet, depending on how the pallet will be used.
Block
Upper deck is supported with a rectangular, square or cylindrical spacers. Block pallets may be required for heavier loads.
Skid
A skid has no bottom decking. Top deck boards rest on top of the perpendicular stringers. Typically it is only a 2-way pallet.
Direction of the deck boards.
Distance between deck board supports, either stringers or block.
A pallet with deck boards flush to the stringer or block. No overhang.
Pallet Parts
Width
Direction of the deck boards.
Deck Boards
Multiple boards placed perpendicular to stringer forming both the top and bottom of the pallet and sometimes the top only.
Span
Distance between deck board supports, either stringers or block.
Overall Height
Vertical span between the floor and top side of the top deck.
Length
Measurement of the stringer direction.
Leads
Boards at either end of the deck. Usually when leads are referred to they are wider than the inner boards for increasing structurally integrity. They will usually be 5.5 “wide and known as 6” lead boards.
Inners
Boards in between lead boards. Spacing requirements will usually dictate the number of inner boards used. On average, the width of an inner board is usually 3.5”.
Spacing
The spacing between the deck boards. Space is most critical part of the top decking It’s usually dictated by the need to increase total weight across the entire surface or to accommodate the size or shape of the load so that product cannot tip or fall into the spacing. Lighter weight product with large foot prints can sometimes use fewer boards, thus saving money.
Flush
A pallet with deck boards flush to the stringer or block. No overhang.
Plug
The repair board attached to a defective stringer to make it usable again. A plug is can run the full length of a stringer or only over a section of the stringer being repaired. The number of stringers repaired is used as part of the grading process in GMA pallets.
Wing
The top only (single wing) or both top and bottom boards (double wing) overhang the outer stringers. Usually used for heavier weights such as cement block.