Pallet Management Guide for Jacksonville, FL Businesses
How to organise your own pallet flow, from buying and storing to sorting, repairing and recycling surplus
Need Pallets Bought, Repaired or Collected?
Reuse Before NewThis guide covers what you can do in-house. When you need supply, repairs or surplus pallets taken away, send a request and we pass it to a partner supplier, who follows up with a quote.
- Free, No-Obligation Quote Request
- Grade A, B and C Used Pallets
- Pickup and Delivery Through Partners
- Reusing a Pallet Avoids Building a New One
Request a Pallet Quote
Why Organise Your Pallet Flow?
Pallets are easy to overlook until a shipment is waiting and the good ones have run out, or a corner of the yard fills with broken stacks. A few simple habits in your own business can keep pallets moving. This guide sets out those habits. It is general guidance, and the right approach depends on your volumes and your site.
Know What You Have
A regular count by size and condition shows whether you are short, overstocked or holding pallets you cannot use.
Buy to Match Your Use
Matching size and grade to each job avoids paying for a better pallet than the load requires, or using one that is not up to it.
Keep Space Clear
Surplus and broken pallets take up room. Regular sorting frees that space for work that earns its keep.
Handle Pallets Safely
Damaged pallets can drop loads and cause injuries. Pulling them from use early is one of the simplest safety habits.
Avoid Last-Minute Shortages
Knowing your usual use and your busy periods makes it easier to request pallets before you run short.
Reuse Before Replacing
Reusing or repairing a pallet avoids building a new one, and recycling keeps usable wood out of the trash when a pallet is beyond repair.
Step 1: Buying Pallets
Start by working out what you actually need. A short list of sizes and grades is usually easier to live with than a yard of odd pallets.
Choose Your Sizes
Many businesses standardise on the 48 x 40 inch GMA pallet, because it is widely available and suits most racking and trailers. Add other sizes only where a load calls for them.
Consider:
- What your customers ask you to ship on
- The sizes your racking accepts
- Common alternatives such as 42 x 42 or 48 x 48
- Whether a custom size is really needed
Match Grade to Job
Grade names vary between suppliers, so ask how each one defines them. As a general guide, Grade A pallets are in cleaner condition with little repair, while Grade B pallets show more wear or repairs.
Consider:
- Customer requirements for appearance
- Internal moves that can use a lower grade
- Heavier loads that need sound pallets
- One-way shipments that may not return
New or Recycled
Recycled pallets suit many general uses, and new pallets offer more consistency for specific sizes or sensitive loads. A partner supplier can tell you what is available.
When Requesting:
- State size, grade and quantity
- Say if this is a one-off or repeat need
- Mention any export requirement
- Give your location for delivery options
Step 2: Storing Pallets
Keep Pallets Dry, Tidy and Accessible
Keep Them Dry
Wood takes up moisture, and Jacksonville is humid and rainy for much of the year. Store pallets under cover where you can, and off wet ground, to lower the risk of mold and rot.
Tip: Use older stock first so that pallets do not sit damp at the bottom of a stack
Stack Them Safely
Stack empty pallets flat and straight, on level ground, at a height your team can handle safely. Check with your local fire authority about current rules for idle pallet storage.
Tip: Keep stacks clear of exits, sprinklers, electrical panels and walkways
Give Them a Place
A marked area for empties stops pallets drifting around the site, and it makes counts and pickups easier. Put it close to where pallets are used.
Tip: Separate areas for ready, repair and scrap keep sorting simple
Step 3: Sorting Pallets
Ready to Use
Sound pallets with no loose boards or protruding nails can go straight back into use, grouped by size and grade.
- Check the deck boards and stringers
- Look for protruding nails
- Group by size and grade
Needs Repair
A cracked board or loose block may be repairable. Set these pallets aside and tag them so no one loads them by accident.
- Broken or loose deck boards
- Split blocks
- Mark them clearly
Surplus or Scrap
Sizes you never use and pallets past repair belong in their own stack, ready for sale or recycling through a partner supplier.
- Odd sizes you cannot use
- Badly damaged pallets
- Anything contaminated goes separately
Check for Contamination
Pallets with spills, stains or strong odours should be kept away from your products. Find out what was on them, and follow current rules for disposing of them.
- Unknown stains or odours
- Visible mold
- Tell the supplier before any pickup
Check Export Markings
If you ship abroad, keep ISPM 15 marked pallets apart from unmarked ones, so that the right pallet goes on the right shipment.
- Look for the treatment mark
- Keep marked pallets together
- Check current rules for repaired pallets
Count as You Sort
A basic log of pallets in and out, even a whiteboard or spreadsheet, shows how fast you use them and when to request more.
- Count by size and condition
- Note what comes back from customers
- Watch for busy periods
Step 4: Repairing Pallets
Repairing a pallet keeps its sound wood in use. Whether it is worthwhile depends on the damage and how many pallets you have.
Worth Repairing
Damage limited to a board or two can often be fixed, particularly on sizes you use regularly.
Often Repairable:
- A cracked or missing deck board
- Loose nails or boards
- Damage to a single block
Probably Not Worth It
Pallets with major structural damage are often better recycled, and a supplier can advise on where the line sits for your pallets.
Usually Recycled:
- Several broken stringers
- Rot or heavy mold
- Sizes you have no use for
Requesting Repairs
If you have a stack waiting, send a request and we pass it to a partner supplier, who can say whether repair is available and how it would work.
Include:
- Approximate number of pallets
- Size and type of damage
- Photos, if you have them
- Your location
Step 5: Selling or Recycling Surplus
Sell Usable Pallets
Some partner suppliers buy used pallets, depending on size, condition and quantity. Common sizes in good condition tend to be the easiest to place.
- Sort them first if you can
- Give an honest description
- Any offer comes from the supplier
Recycle Damaged Pallets
Wood from broken pallets can be reused for repairs or processed into other products, depending on the supplier. That keeps wood out of landfill where a recycling route exists.
- Keep trash out of pallet stacks
- Mention any contamination
- Ask what happens to the wood
Arrange a Pickup
Pickup is available through partner suppliers, subject to quantity and location. Tell them about access at your site, such as a dock or forklift.
- Give the approximate quantity
- Describe loading access
- Let the supplier know where the stacks are
Planning for Busy Periods
Simple Planning for Your Own Business
Look at Your Use
Compare your typical week with your busiest. The gap shows how many spare pallets are worth keeping on hand.
Plan Ahead
If your work has seasons, send a request ahead of the peak. Availability depends on partner suppliers, so more notice gives them more room to help.
Review After the Peak
When things quieten down, sort what is left. Keep what you will use and offer the rest for sale or recycling.
Need Help With Supply, Repair or Surplus?
Tell us what you need, and we pass your request to a partner supplier. We take requests from the Jacksonville area, including Duval, St. Johns, Clay and Nassau counties; availability depends on partner suppliers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Jacksonville Pallets run a pallet management service?
No. This page is a guide for businesses organising their own pallets. Jacksonville Pallets is a referral service that passes requests for pallets, repairs and pickups to partner suppliers.
Where should a small business start?
Count what you have by size and condition, set aside an area for empties, and separate pallets into ready, repair and scrap stacks.
How many spare pallets should I keep?
It depends on your use. Compare a normal week with your busiest week, keep enough to cover the gap, and avoid holding more than your space allows.
How should I store pallets outdoors?
Keep stacks on level, well-drained ground, away from buildings and exits where possible, and cover them if you can. Check current fire rules with your local authority.
Should I repair or recycle a damaged pallet?
Damage to a board or two can often be repaired. Pallets with several broken stringers, rot or heavy mold are usually better recycled. A partner supplier can advise.
Can I sell my used pallets?
Possibly. Some partner suppliers buy used pallets, depending on size, condition and quantity. Send a request and any offer will come from the supplier.
Can someone collect surplus pallets from my site?
Pickup is available through partner suppliers, depending on quantity and location. Include your approximate quantity and site access details in your request.
How do I reduce lost pallets?
Keep a simple log of pallets sent and returned, agree returns with regular customers, and check counts at a set point each month.
Which areas do you take requests from?
We take requests from the Jacksonville area, including Duval, St. Johns, Clay and Nassau counties. Availability depends on partner suppliers.