Skip to main content
Pallet Finder

Categories

Plastic Plastic Pallets 101 Shipping & Freight Sustainability Technical Center Wood
Blog Authors

Tags

automotive, export, fda, food-safe, ispm-15, lumber, nestable, pallet-experts, pallet-mold, pharmaceutical, plastic, plastic-pallets-101, rackable, shipping, stackable, sustainability, technical-center, used-pallets, wood, wood-pallets

Find the right plastic pallet

Select from the options below to zero in on your ideal pallet configuration.

Application use case

Export
One-Way
Multi-Trip
Warehouse
Bulk Bag
Pharma
FDA Blue

Condition

Size inches

42×42 43×43 45×45 48×32 48×40 48×45 48×48 56×44 Other…

Style structure and storage type

Nestable Stackable Rackable

Load Rating pounds (optional)

Dynamic

Weight supported in motion (forklift, pallet jack, conveyor).

Up to 1,5001,500 – 4,000Over 4,000
Static

Weight supported at rest (or bottom pallet when stacked 2–3 high).

Up to 3,5003,500 – 8,0008,000 – 18,000Over 18,000
Racking

Weight supported in unsupported rack (edge racking).

Up to 1,5001,500–2,800Over 2,800
Looking for wood pallets?  ·  Looking for more filters? — match Clear all

Request a Match

A few quick taps and we'll match it.

Tell us a little about the job, drop your details, and a Nelson rep takes it from there — matching the best available stock, new or used, from the closest warehouse.

A few quick questions

Plastic or wood pallet?
Wood Plastic
Load dims & weight (inches / lbs)
What's going on the pallet?
Siding / roofingRolls / reelsHigh-value equipmentIrregular / oversized itemsOther
Where is it going?
In-house / warehouseDomestic shippingExport overseasCold / freezer
Equipment used? (select all that apply)
Supported RackUnsupported RackForkliftPallet jackRiders / WalkiesConveyorPalletizer
How many?
Under 100100–500500–1,0001,000+
How often?
1 TimeRecurring
Anything else?

Where to send the match

No commitment — this starts a conversation, not an order.
Wood

Export Wood Pallets

Choosing the Wrong Shipping Pallet could Lead to your Biggest Export Nightmare

Exporting products on pallets? If your pallets do not comply with ISPM-15 regulations, avoidable missteps could come back to haunt you.

Choosing the Wrong Shipping Pallet could Lead to your Biggest Export Nightmare
Proper ISPM-15 stamping on wooden pallets is just one step in avoiding your biggest export nightmare.

Most shippers export some, if not all, of their products on pallets. There are international regulations that govern the shipment of wood packaging materials (WPM) which are implemented to reduce the transfer of unwanted pests between countries. The regulation that governs WPM is ISPM-15, International Regulation of Wood Packaging Material in International Trade.

HT Stamps and More

Plywood and OSB panel pallets are exempt from ISPM-15 and do not need additional treatments like heat (HT). This means they do not need to be stamped. However, not having the stamps can lead to delays when the import inspector does not understand the material is exempt from ISPM-15.

Even with proper treatment of wood pallets, or exempt plywood pallets, you are still at the mercy of the import country inspectors. Stories abound of paperwork issues, missing HT stamps, illegible HT stamps, etc. For that reason, some companies use plastic, corrugated, or steel pallets that are clearly free of pests and exempt from ISPM-15 regulations.

If a unit load is non ISPM-15 compliant, it is usually detained in the receiving country. This means the cost and time needed to resolve the issue is up to the local inspector. Clearly, it is in your best interest to do your homework up front to prevent inspection issues.

IPPC ISPM-15 US HT Stamp

An ISPM-15 stamp includes the IPPC logo, country code (US) and treatment (HT).

How to Prevent Pallet Export Issues

An ISPM-15 stamp certifies your WPM meets standards set by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). Here’s how you can best prepare for exporting:

  • Use a Reputable Supplier
    Make sure you are working with a reputable pallet supplier that can provide ISPM-15 certified heat-treated pallets.

  • Stamp Both Sides
    Make sure your wooden export pallets are clearly and properly stamped on both sides of the pallets with the ISPM-15 mark.

  • Get your Paperwork in Order
    Ask your pallet supplier if there are any additional regulations or paperwork required for your country of import.

  • Do Not Modify your Pallet
    Make sure your internal team does not modify the pallets (extra boards, crating, etc.) onsite. This invalidates the pallet stamps and will likely lead to issues at the country of import.

  • Consider Wood Alternatives
    Plastic is usually the alternative material of choice if you want a non-wood pallet. The cost of plastic pallets is low enough that, in some cases, they are similar to wood.

Wooden Pallets Getting Held up at the Border?

If your wooden pallets or packaging are routinely delayed by border inspectors, you already know it’s an expensive hitch to exporting. Want to eliminate the cause? Let’s connect. Tell us about your own ISPM-15 nightmare or ask questions below.

KEEP READING

Related from the blog