If you’re operating a warehouse or are regularly receiving and/or shipping out product, then you know how important your supply of pallets is. If you start running low on pallets, it could result in downtime, which, in turn, would hurt your bottom line. However, pallet costs can also affect your bottom line. Fortunately, the following are eight ways that you can reduce your pallet costs without risking a low supply.

1. Choose the right material

Pallets are manufactured out of a variety of different materials, the most common being wood. Wood pallets tend to be more affordable than plastic pallets and are more versatile. If you’re constantly having to replace pallets, wood pallets make more sense since they do cost less.

2. Use refurbished pallets

A refurbished pallet may not look as good as a brand new pallet, but it will do the job just as well. Refurbished pallets are just as durable and tend to be much more affordable. As far as the capability of a refurbished pallet goes, manufacturers use special software that can account for the use of recycled materials to provide an accurate calculation of how much weight it can withstand.

3. Customize your pallets

By having your pallets customized to fit your needs, the pallets are much more likely to last. This is especially true if you’ve been buying cheap pallets that aren’t lasting long because they can’t withstand the weight of the products your shipping.

4. Buy in bulk

Vendors typically charge delivery fees when you buy a partial-truckload of pallets instead of a full-truckload as a way to offset the empty space in their trucks. Instead of purchasing a partial-truckload of pallets that will meet your current needs, consider buying in bulk by purchasing a full-truckload. Not only will you have enough pallets to meet your current and future needs, but you’re likely to save money on delivery fees.

5. Buy your supply ahead of time

If you’re running low on your supply of pallets, then you’re more likely to request a quick delivery so that you don’t suffer any downtime due to a lack of pallets. However, this is going to cost you more since pallet suppliers will charge you rush fees for last-minute orders. You can avoid such fees by staying on top of your lead times and paying for extra pallets ahead of time. Simply store the pallets that you don’t need right away on-site until you do need them to avoid potential downtimes as well as rush fees. If you don’t have the space to store extra pallets on-site, don’t be afraid to ask your pallet supplier if you can temporarily store your extra pallets at their facility.

6. Participate in a repair and return program

You can reduce the waste you have on site as well as save money on having to replace damaged pallets by participating in a repair and return program. Such a program will allow you to have your damaged pallets picked up and repaired so that they can be used again.

7. Participate in a wood waste removal program

If you are still throwing old wood pallets away whenever they are damaged, then you should consider joining a wood waste removal program. Vendors who offer such programs will pick up your old and damaged wood pallets, thereby eliminating the cost of pallet removal and disposal. Some vendors will even buy old pallets that they can refurbish.

8. Work with the right pallet company

Who you work with will have a big impact on your pallet costs. Besides the actual price of the pallets, a good pallet company can help you choose the right type of pallets and the quantity that you need to help ensure that you are able to move your product efficiently.

Investing in a regular supply of pallets can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. These are eight effective methods that you can employ to reduce your pallet costs. For information about the types of pallets that we offer and the benefits of choosing our pallets, be sure to contact us at Greenway Products & Services today.