As a Houston distribution center, we see our fair share of loads arriving on one end of the dock and being sent out the other. Our cross dock services afford us the opportunity to move all sorts of pallets around. We have noticed that some companies shipping to Costco for the first time aren’t using the right kind of pallet.
Costco has a lot of shipping rules their vendors must follow. For example:
- pallets cannot weigh more than 2,500 pounds in total
- pallets should measure no more than 48 x 40 inches
- load height should measure no more than 58 inches.
The rules are in place to ensure efficiency and safety. Not following them could result in pallets being rejected. This includes failing to utilize block pallets.
Two Kinds of Pallets
Pallets come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The two most commonly used today are block and stringer pallets. Costco requires that goods be shipped on standard block pallets. They do not accept stringer pallets. What is the difference? It boils down to design. Here are the specifics:
1. Block Pallets
A block pallet consists of an upper deck supported by pieces of wood underneath known as stringers. The entire deck/stringer assembly sits atop nine blocks. There is a block on each as well as each side. There is also a block in the center.
One of the main advantages of the block pallet is that it can be grabbed by a forklift from any direction. It has been said that block pallets are stronger than stringer pallets, but there is some debate about that.
2. Stringer Pallets
Stringer pallets essentially consist of two decks with three stringers in between. Yet the bottom deck does not have slats running its entire length. So only the top deck is suitable for carrying the load.
This type of pallet has two stringers, one on each outside edge, along with a third that runs down the center. As such, a forklift can only access the stringer pallet from front or back – though it is possible to notch the two edge stringers to allow forklift blades underneath.
Give Them What They Want
Logistics companies can argue all day long about which of the two types of pallets is stronger. Quite frankly, we have seen tests that go both ways. But when it comes to Costco pallets, it doesn’t really matter. Costco has decided they want block pallets. Give them what they want.
Anybody dealing with Costco for the first time would do well to get a full list of their shipping rules and study them carefully. Follow all the rules and Costco is pretty easy to deal with. Deviate from the rules and you might be dealing with a pallet rework.
Costco Pallet Reworks
So let’s talk about what happens if you don’t follow one of Costco’s many shipping rules: they will refuse to accept your shipment. This can be very frustrating and happens to many vendors. The solution is called a pallet rework, something a warehouse like ours can help you with.
Basically, you will reroute your shipment to the warehouse doing the rework. They will unload the shipment and fix the problem with the shipment. This could involve changing the pallet to a new one, restacking the pallet to fit weight requirements, adjusting a shifted load, or something else. Make sure to use a warehouse that is very familiar with Costco’s requirements to avoid a second rework!
One of the best ways to avoid a rework: make sure you use the right pallets from the start. Remember, for Costco shipments, only block pallets will do.