what is a pallet?
A pallet is a flat transportable structure made generally from wood, occasionally plastic, designed to support a variety of goods giving stability to the item whilst in transit. Goods must be placed securely on the pallet using strapping or shrink wrap plastic film. It is essential the goods are secured in this way to ensure they do not move during transit.
do the goods have to palletised (put on a pallet) and what type of goods are suitable?
Yes, to enable you to use National Pallet services, the goods must be transported using a pallet. It is the customers responsibly to ensure the goods are secured safely for transit. You would be amazed at what could be put on a pallet. Anything from domestic appliances, motor spares, building materials, furniture, the list is endless. The only goods we are unable to carry are hazardous goods.
will national pallets provide pallets?
Yes, we can. Once you have entered all the necessary details an empty pallet can be requested by ticking the required box. A nominal charge is made for this service and we require at least one days working notice.
A pallet will be presented collection point and the customer will be given 10 minutes to pack and secure the goods safely on the pallet. It is not the driver’s responsibility to place the goods on the pallet. Please note that large and heavy items do need securing with either ratchet straps or another form of strapping to ensure they are safe and secure during transit. The most we can supply to secure goods is shrink wrap but this is only suitable for smaller and lighter items.
Note: Please be aware that if ordering an empty pallet from us, these are of the standard dimensions mentioned above, as oversized empty pallets simply do not exist.
how are you going to get the pallet on the vehicle?
All collection and delivery vehicle's carry pallet trucks and the vehicles are fitted with tail lifts. The driver will move the pallet onto the tail lift of the vehicle using the pallet truck and ensure the pallet is safely placed on the vehicle. The maximum weight the tail lift can carry is 1000kg. To be able to use the pump truck effectively the surface must be flat and constructed of either tarmac or concrete. You are unable to move goods using a pump truck on a gravel drive.
what access is needed for collections and deliveries?
It is important to make sure the vehicle will fit down your road before you request a collection / delivery. The smallest vehicle used is a 7.5 ton. If a refuse collection vehicle can get to your property then there should not be a problem. If you are unsure, put on note on the instructions and we will check directly.
why the different pallet sizes?
Although it may seem a little confusing, by offering the different pallet sizes, we can offer you the best possible rate for delivering your pallet. You don’t want to have to pay for a full 2 meter high pallet when you’re sending an item 1 meter high, which would be classified as a 1/2 pallet. We do ask you to accurately measure the goods to ensure you are charged correctly. The collection company will measure your pallet to ensure it corresponds with what you have booked.
what is an oversized pallet?
An oversized pallet is, as you would expect, a pallet outside the dimensions quoted of 1m x 1.2m. If as an example you were sending Pack of wood on a pallet, and the wood was 1.8 meters long, 1 meter wide and 1 meter high, you would need to book this as an oversized pallet. The weight limit is the same as a full pallet, a maximum of 1000kg. Please be aware that if you have asked us to supply the pallet, the goods will overhang the pallet as we cannot supply empty oversized pallets.
what information do i need to place an order?
You will need to know the dimensions of the item you wish to transport and the approximate weight. You will also need the full collections and delivery address and telephone numbers for both
what if i miss my collection / delivery?
The price paid is for one collection / delivery attempt. Commercial vehicles are not cheap to run and if the goods are not ready for collection, an additional charge may be made.
are the goods insured?
Whilst the goods are on the pallet and in transit with National Pallets the delivery will be insured in accordance with our terms and conditions of carriage. The limit of liability is restricted to a maximum of £1.30 per kilo. We do recommend customers purchase either our additional or extended insurance if £1.30 per kilo is not sufficient.
Please see our section on insurance for more detailed information.
can you provide tracking information ?
Yes, we can. As soon as your order is processed you will receive an email with your tracking number. You can either click on the link within that email or if you log into your account, you will see the tracking number quoted next to your order number. Please note that no tracking information will be displayed until the goods have been collected and have been labelled. Until this point your order status will read order processing.