How to Ship a Pallet: A Step-by-Step Guide
Shipping your first pallet doesn't have to be complicated. This guide walks you through everything — from packaging and labeling to getting a quote and booking the pickup.
The first time you ship a pallet, the process can feel like it's in a foreign language. Freight class, BOL, accessorials, PRO numbers — none of it is intuitive if you've spent your career on the product side of a business rather than the logistics side.
But the mechanics are actually pretty simple once someone walks you through them. Here's the complete process, from packaging to delivery, with the specific details that first-time shippers typically miss.
Step 1: Build your pallet correctly — this matters more than most people realize
LTL freight gets handled multiple times before it reaches your consignee. It goes from your dock to a local terminal, gets sorted, rides a linehaul truck, arrives at a destination terminal, and then a delivery driver handles it again. That's four or five handling events. A poorly built pallet won't survive it.
Start with a solid pallet. Standard dimensions are 48" × 40". Check it for broken boards and protruding nails before loading. Carriers can refuse freight on a damaged pallet, and rightfully so — it's a safety issue and a liability.
Stack evenly, heaviest on the bottom. If you're shipping boxes, stack them like a brick pattern (offset from row to row) for better structural integrity. Don't let anything hang over the pallet edge.
Stretch wrap generously. Three or four layers minimum, going up from the pallet base so the wrap anchors the freight to the pallet itself. This is the step most shippers underdo. More wrap is almost always better.
Add corner boards if the freight is heavy or stacked tall. They distribute strap pressure and protect corners from forklift contact. For high-value freight, add strapping over the wrap.
Put a top cap on. A flat piece of cardboard or a spare pallet on top protects your freight from whatever gets stacked on it at the terminal and signals to handlers that it's stackable.
Step 2: Get accurate dimensions and weight
You need four numbers for a freight quote: length, width, height, and weight. Measure and weigh after packaging — the carrier measures and weighs the whole thing, not just the product inside.
A common mistake is measuring the product, then estimating the pallet height separately and adding them together. Measure everything assembled, as it will actually be picked up. Round up, not down — conservative measurements protect you from reclassification.
Write these numbers down somewhere you can reference them, because you'll use them every time you quote a similar shipment.
Step 3: Know your freight class before you call
Freight class is what drives a significant portion of your LTL rate. The NMFC system assigns a class between 50 and 500 based primarily on density — weight divided by cubic feet.
Quick density calculation:
- Convert dimensions to cubic feet: (Length × Width × Height) ÷ 1,728
- Divide total weight by cubic feet to get PCF (pounds per cubic foot)
- Cross-reference PCF against the NMFC density table to find your class
You don't have to do this perfectly on your own — your freight broker should verify class before quoting. But knowing roughly what class your freight falls into helps you catch errors and understand why your rate is what it is.
Step 4: Request your LTL freight quote
When you call or submit a quote request, have this information ready:
- Origin ZIP code and destination ZIP code
- Requested pickup date
- Total weight (including pallet)
- Pallet dimensions (L × W × H)
- Freight class or commodity description
- Any accessorial requirements
That last item is the one most first-timers forget. Accessorials are fees for non-standard pickup or delivery conditions — liftgate, residential stop, inside delivery, delivery appointment. Every one of these applies based on your actual situation, whether you declare them or not. The difference is whether you know the cost before or after.
If your pickup location doesn't have a loading dock, you need a liftgate. If you're delivering to a home or a small business without a dock, you likely need a liftgate at delivery too. If the recipient needs to schedule a delivery window, that's an appointment accessorial. Declare all of it upfront.
Get a free LTL shipping quote from Route 89 — we walk through accessorials on every quote so nothing surprises you on the invoice.
Step 5: Review your quote and book the shipment
Once you have a rate you're comfortable with, confirm the booking with your freight broker or carrier. You'll receive a Bill of Lading (BOL) — the single most important document in a freight shipment.
The BOL is simultaneously a shipping contract, a receipt, and delivery instructions. Make sure it includes:
- Full shipper name, address, and contact number
- Full consignee (recipient) name, address, and contact number
- Accurate commodity description
- Number of handling units (pallets, pieces)
- Total weight
- Freight class and NMFC number
- All declared accessorials
- Any special instructions
Print the BOL and keep a copy. The driver picks up the original at your location.
Step 6: Label every piece
Attach a shipping label to each pallet — ideally on a side visible when looking down the trailer. The label should include the consignee's full delivery address, your return address, and the PRO number assigned by the carrier after booking.
Don't rely on the BOL paperwork alone. Labels on the freight itself ensure your pallet reaches the right destination even if paperwork gets separated in transit.
Step 7: Be ready at pickup time
Have someone available during the pickup window. The driver won't wait long, and a missed pickup means rescheduling and potentially losing your rate.
Have the freight accessible — ideally at dock level or in a location where a truck can pull up and a driver can get to it quickly. If you don't have a dock, confirm the liftgate was booked. Hand the driver the BOL and get the carrier's copy back with the driver's signature and pickup time noted. That signed BOL is your proof of tender if there's ever a dispute.
The mistakes that cost first-time shippers money
Not wrapping tightly enough. Loose stretch wrap comes undone. Re-wrap anything you're not confident in.
Leaving the pallet weight out of the total. A standard wood pallet weighs 35–50 lbs. It counts.
Rounding dimensions down. If it's 49 inches, it's 49 inches, not 48. Carriers measure.
Skipping accessorials to get a lower quote. The carrier will charge them regardless. You're not saving money — you're just postponing when you find out the real cost.
Using a damaged pallet. This is how freight falls off forklifts. Don't risk it.
Ready to ship?
Route 89 handles freight for shippers across all 50 states, from first-timers figuring out the process to businesses running dozens of LTL lanes per week. We'll walk you through freight class, make sure your quote covers everything, and stay on your shipment until it delivers.
Call us at (801) 988-9645 or request a free freight quote online. Most quotes are back the same business day.