Palletizing your cargo is entirely up to you
Your choice to palletize will be influenced by several variables, including the fragility of your cargo, its destination, and the manner of transit. Palletization is the practice of shrink-wrapping loose goods and stacking them on top of pallets to make it easier to handle, load quickly, and protect the product during transit.
Palletizing fragile cargo will shield it from damage while in transit.
Pallets limit the number of items you can ship, but palletized freight will be quicker and easier for the destination warehouse to unload.
The choice of palletization will also be influenced by the mode of transit for your shipment (FCL, LCL, or Air).
You should review Amazon's standards for palletization if your shipment is headed there.
FCL
If you're shipping FCL (full container load), your cargo must fill the entire container. Pallets themselves take up room in the container, therefore you won't be able to pack as many cartons if you choose to palletize your FCL shipment.
However, because the destination warehouse will be able to use automation, palletized freight will be simpler and quicker to unload. If the shipment is floor loaded, the recipient will need to manually unload the shipment.
Live unloading may not be possible since the warehouse may take longer to unload the shipment than the driver is willing to wait; instead, the trucker will have to do a drop. Before deciding whether or not to palletize your shipment, check with the destination warehouse since some may not be open to receiving a floor-loaded package at all.
LCL
Palletization is advised for high-value cargo while shipping LCL to reduce the possibility of damage. Your freight charges will increase if you palletize at the source due to the added weight of the pallets. If you're trying to save money on shipping, floor loading is advised. If your LCL wasn't palletized at the origin, it will be at the destination.
Truckers won't pick up floor-loaded cartons, therefore when the shipment has been de-consolidated at the CFS (container freight station), the CFS will palletize the cartons (except for cartons going to Amazon via FedEx). Pallet exchange fees may apply during palletization if you are not using our LCL service.
Air
Palletizing your item may not be possible if you're transporting it by air because the pallets would occupy too much of the plane's constrained space. If your goods are not palletized, the airline will be able to load the aircraft taking into account both the weight and volume of your cargo.
To guarantee a secure flight, a consignment that is not palletized may be divided. On delayed flights, shipments are more likely to be separated.
If your flying cargo is palletized, the airline might let a trucker pick it up or might demand that the pallets be disassembled at the airport. Your team will keep you informed of the airline's requirements.
Reminder: When submitting a quote request, provide the pallet count and dimensions if you know your cargo will be palletized.