Pallet shipping for dummies - sizes?

[JL42]

Hi guys,

So most of the pallet shipping i do is between 50 and 65 kg so I send through FEDEX which costs me about £20 a pallet.

I’m currently sending something that weighs about 100kg and am stumped to say the least.

When I put my dimensions (60cm long by 70 cm wide by 105 cm tall) into FedEx I get a quote of about £360. For a mainland UK to mainland UK consignment? Absolutely not.

So I’m looking at some other options and have found a few options hovering between £50 and £75 for the weight from companies that have pretty decent reviews online.

But I’m a bit hesitant to purchase as they all say “120cm long by 100/120cm wide and 60 cm tall”.

I know this is going to seem stupid but is that hard and fast or is it a volume thing? I’m well under the length and width sizes but am over the height. Will I have to buy a full pallet then or is a quarter pallet fine?

Never shipped a pallet with anyone other than FedEx so do feel a bit stupid for asking but I’m going to feel even stupider if I end up with extra fees for not going for the right option, or purchase something too big and waste money I don’t really want to waste this time of year.

Thanks.

JL

PS: Companies I'm looking at are Pallet Online and UK Pallet Commercial Deliveries if that makes any difference

 

[Martin Patfield]

Hi JL,

For your pallets I'd advise not using DHL / Fedex or any other "parcel" carrier. Their costs are ridiculous in comparison to what you can get through a dedicated pallet network.

Where are you based?

You can look up local logistics / courier companies who are part of a pallet network.

Pallet networks such as Pallet Force / Pallex / Pallet Line / Pallet Ways / United Pallet Network - of course there will be more.
Most of these will have a local depot that collects from your area and have better price point than what you are receiving.

 

[JL42]

Hi JL,

For your pallets I'd advise not using DHL / Fedex or any other "parcel" carrier. Their costs are ridiculous in comparison to what you can get through a dedicated pallet network.

Where are you based?

You can look up local logistics / courier companies who are part of a pallet network.

Pallet networks such as Pallet Force / Pallex / Pallet Line / Pallet Ways / United Pallet Network - of course there will be more.
Most of these will have a local depot that collects from your area and have better price point than what you are receiving.

I’m based just outside of Lincoln in woodhall spa if you’re familiar with the area… literally right next to the FedEx depot.

I’ve always found FedEx pallet rates to be way better than all of those networks you mentioned. Under £30 if it’s under 68kg, which 99.9% of mine are (most are 50-60kg) after that it does get a bit ridiculous but for what I need most of the time FedEx are my go to, plus it can’t be damaged en route to the depot as I can literally see it whenever I go outside.

Anyway I’ve sorted this. A mate of mine’s dad is a truck driver and offered to get it so this whole thread is moot as far as I’m concerned.

Ps I don’t think it is volumetric from how he explained it to me if someone else has come here in search of the same info.

 

[James]

I’m based just outside of Lincoln in woodhall spa if you’re familiar with the area… literally right next to the FedEx depot.

I’ve always found FedEx pallet rates to be way better than all of those networks you mentioned. Under £30 if it’s under 68kg, which 99.9% of mine are (most are 50-60kg) after that it does get a bit ridiculous but for what I need most of the time FedEx are my go to, plus it can’t be damaged en route to the depot as I can literally see it whenever I go outside.

Anyway I’ve sorted this. A mate of mine’s dad is a truck driver and offered to get it so this whole thread is moot as far as I’m concerned.

Ps I don’t think it is volumetric from how he explained it to me if someone else has come here in search of the same info.

Volumetric is more for the parcel side. Pallet networks generally offer 1/4 which are upto 120 x 100 x 60h cm and 250 kg 1/2 which are 120 x 100 x 100 and 500 kg and full which are 120 x 100 x 180 and 1000 kg

 

[JL42]

Volumetric is more for the parcel side. Pallet networks generally offer 1/4 which are upto 120 x 100 x 60h cm and 250 kg 1/2 which are 120 x 100 x 100 and 500 kg and full which are 120 x 100 x 180 and 1000 kg

Yeah that’s what my friend’s dad said. Pretty much verbatim actually.

Admins, can we pin James’ answer?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Their costs are ridiculous in comparison to what you can get through a dedicated pallet network.

I thought that until I saw that they were paying £20 a pallet (seems too good to be true).

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I think looking at it you will be OK with Pallex