What is a pallet? A pallet is a flat transportable structure made generally from wood, occasional plastic, designed to support a variety of goods giving stability to the item whilst in transit. Goods must be placed securely on the pallet and secured using strapping or shrink wrap plastic film. It is essential goods are secured in this way to ensure they do not move during transit.
Do the goods have to be palletised and what type of goods are suitable to be palletised? Yes, to enable you to use National Pallets services, the goods must be transported using a pallet. It is the customers’ responsibility to ensure the goods are secured safely for transit.You would be amazed at what can be put on pallets. 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 requesting by ticking the required box. A nominal charge is made for this service and we would require at least one working days notice. The pallet will be presented at the collection point and the customer will be given 10 minutes to pack and secure the goods safely on the pallet. It will not be the driver’s responsibility to place the goods on the pallet.
How are you going to get the pallet on to the vehicle? All collection & delivery vehicles carry pallet trucks & the vehicles are fitted will tail lifts. The driver will move the pallet onto the tail lift of the vehicle using the pallet truck and ensure your pallet is safely placed in the vehicle. The Maximum weight the tail lift can carry is 1000kg. To be able to use the pallet truck effectively the surface must be flat and constructed of either concrete or tarmac. You are unable to move goods using a pallet truck on a gravel drive.
How do I package my goods to ensure they arrive safely? Packing an item correctly is vital to ensure its safety in transit between collection and delivery points. If the item is fragile it is advisable to wrap it in bubble wrap or cardboard to give it added protection. If the item being collected is of a mechanical nature it is vital that all oils and lubricants are drained before the goods are placed on the pallet. This ensures the health and safety of everyone involved in the movement of the goods. Goods must not overhang the edges of the pallet.
Are there any limitations for collection or delivery? Restricted access is so often a problem we face because we are not informed prior to collection or delivery. This is why when booking the collection we ask for a collection & delivery telephone number. The collecting company will phone you prior to collection to ensure that you will be available for them to collect and at that point you can inform them on any restrictions there may be accessing your property. The delivering company will phone the person receiving your pallet to ask the same questions. By following these procedures it ensures an efficient collection and delivery .This is also important as you may face re collection or re delivery charges if the drivers arrive to find no one in or the road is too small to access their vehicle.
Why 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 6ft high pallet when your sending an item with a height of under 3ft and would be classed as a half pallet. We do ask you to accurately measure your goods to ensure you are charged correctly. The collection company will also measure your pallet to make sure it corresponds with the size you have booked.
What’s an oversized pallet? An oversized pallet is, as you would expect, is a pallet outside the dimensions quoted of 1m x 1.2 m. If as an example you were sending a pack of wood on a pallet, the wood in length was 6ft long, 2 ft wide & 2 ft high you would need to book this as an oversized pallet. The weight limit is the same as a full pallet (1000kg).
What information do I need to place an order? You will need to know the dimensions of the item you wish to transport and their approximate weight. You need the collection and delivery addresses and telephone numbers. The rest is down to us.
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 & conditions of carriage. The limit of liability is restricted to a maximum of £1300 per 1000kg.
We do advise customers to have independent insurance especially if the goods are of high value.
National Pallets must be notified in writing within 3 working days of any damage to the whole or part consignment or physical loss, miss-delivery or non-delivery of part of a consignment.
Delivery When your goods are delivered, the person responsible for accepting and signing for the goods should make a brief examination of the pallet to ensure there is no damage to the goods. If any shortage or damage is apparent or suspected, the delivery note should be endorsed accordingly. Insurance companies will not consider a claim for damage or loss when a “clean” or “clear” proof of delivery is produced. A signature with the words unchecked is not accepted by insurance companies either. .
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