Regardless of industry, we believe that the secret to running a successful company is efficiency. From distribution and warehousing to delivery and returns, using the most cost-effective methods to optimise your efficiency is vital to being successful. This includes hiring or investing in your trucks in the best way to manage your pallet loading strategies. But, how is this done and what is the best way to load pallets onto a truck? Read on to find out the answers to all these important questions.
What is a pallet?
Pallets are generally constructed from plastic or rigid wood to help the transportation of goods in large amounts by making them more protective, portable, safe and easier to move.
What should I do before I load a pallet onto a truck?
Before you load the pallet onto a truck you need to ensure the vehicle is on a level and firm ground, and that the brakes are applied. You also need to make sure that there is enough space for on both sides of the vehicle for your forklift truck. If you’re loading a vehicle from a stepped dock, you should remove the keys from the ignition so that the driver doesn’t drive away as you’re loading. It is important to read up on the specific safety procedures for your particular site as some loading docks have different loading methods.
How to load pallets on a truck
There are 3 well-known and well-used methods of loading pallets on a truck. These are the following:
Side by side loading
You load the pallets next to one another with the forklift openings on the short end of the pallets facing backwards and forwards. While this method is not the most efficient in terms of how much space is used, side-by-side loading is a great way to quickly load and unload pallets, saving you a lot of valuable time.
Turned loading
This is technically the opposite of side-by-side loading. In it, pallets are placed on the truck in a way in which the long end of the pallet faces backwards and forwards and the forklift openings sideways. This method takes up less space than side-by-side loading, so more pallets can be loaded at once. You can also ensure that the goods on each pallet are more protected as there’s less room to slide or move while in transit. The downside however is that not every vehicle has enough space to accommodate this method.
Pinwheeled loading
Pinwheeled loading combines turned loading and side-by-side loading. When using this method, every other pallet is loaded on the truck in a different direction. So, if you don’t have a trailer that is big enough to turn load, this is the best method to use.
In the end, whatever method you use, you need to ensure that every pallet is inspected for any signs of damage before loading, and thorough calculations need to be made to make sure that you don’t go over the load and weight maximums. Investing in a pallet truck with scales is an efficient way to do this.
When should I use lashings when moving pallets?
If you find or notice that there is too much space between each pallet, then you should use lashings. This will ensure that the pallets don’t move around during transit, and is particularly important when using a rough terrain pallet truck that may shift goods that aren’t secured.
How do I offload pallets from a truck?
You should offload a pallet in the exact reverse way you load a pallet. In other words, you take off the pallets alternating from side to side (if you used the side-to-side loading method) beginning at the back of the vehicle. Please be aware that you might also need to support the front of the vehicle if there’s no tractor unit attached to it.
How many pallets can be found in a full truckload?
The number of pallets that fill a truck depends on the size of the truck itself and the type of pallets you’re loading. This is because the Euro and UK pallets differ in size. Here in the UK, if you’re using the turned loading method, the regular trailer can load and carry 26 UK pallets with 13 on each side. This same trailer can carry approximately 33 Euro pallets with 15 on each side.
Contact West Mercia Fork Trucks today
As the number one forklift company in the Midlands, here at West Mercia Fork Trucks we’re pleased to have a wide selection of vehicles in our pallet truck warehouse. Whether you are looking for a pallet truck for sale or pallet truck hire, we are able to accommodate your needs. From high lift pallet trucks, pallet pump trucks and hand pallet trucks to powered pallet trucks and electric pallet trucks, we are the leading suppliers of pallet trucks UK companies rely on. Don’t hesitate to contact our expert and friendly team today for all your forklift needs.
