Pallet Delivery Companies - Quick Guide

When arranging to send your goods through a pallet delivery network, there are a few things you need to know to avoid any problems or delays.

Most pallet couriers have their own rules and regulations for customers to follow, so you must research and adhere to them as much as you possibly can beforehand. 

Here is what you need to know before shipping a pallet with a pallet courier! 

Standard Pallet Delivery Requirements

To begin with, there’s usually strict rules and guidelines set in place for customers who use a pallet courier to deliver their goods. These are in place to ensure that your items are not refused and that no delays are experienced when getting your pallet to the delivery location. 

Supposing you have never used a pallet courier service before, then it may benefit you to keep reading and give yourself a heads up about what to expect after booking your pallet delivery. 

As you may already know, rules are not optional and must be adhered to as best you can to avoid being refused service. 

Here are a few standard rules that most pallet delivery companies use to keep their services running smoothly: 

Select The Correct Pallet Size 

All couriers need to know the size of each pallet before they collect your goods. Ensuring you select the correct pallet size will help ensure your items travel safely and arrive undamaged, but more importantly, that there is no overhanging.

If items overhang the pallet, they are more likely to become damaged or damage other consignments on the delivery vehicle. For this reason, you must always check the pallet size required before booking your pallet delivery with the courier. 

You will usually find that most pallet couriers advertise this requirement clearly on their website, either on or before the checkout screen to avoid any issues or confusion. 

Depending on the courier you choose, you can sometimes select an oversized pallet if your goods won’t fit the normal pallet size. However, it is always better to check with the courier before selecting anything! 

Deliveries Take Place On Solid, Flat Ground

For the courier to collect and deliver your pallets, you must make sure there is solid, flat ground present on your site so that their delivery vehicle can easily manoeuvre the land. 

If the land is too uneven or is considered unsafe, the driver is likely to turn back without attempting collection and you will be charged for a second collection attempt. In this case, you will always be notified of any difficulties when accessing the premises for collection. 

You should also make sure there are no large objects in the way of where the driver will load or unload your goods. If anything is blocking or partly-blocking the road, the driver will be forced to leave without completing the collection and again, you will be charged for both attempts. 

Nominee Present At Time Of Delivery

While most pallet delivery companies generally send proof of delivery (a delivery receipt, stamped by the recipient), you should still arrange for someone to be present at the time of delivery.

By ensuring this, you can be confident that the delivery went ahead on time and with no issues, but also, should the courier need help with something on the day, there is someone there to offer assistance. 

Not to mention that if there are any issues at the point of delivery, the POD document will show these details and you can query them with the courier should you need or wish to do so. 

Speak Up If You Need A Pallet For Your Goods

Most pallet couriers will be able to supply you with a pallet for an additional cost, but you would normally need to let them know well in advance. 

Giving the courier as much notice for this request will help them prepare everything ready for collection - they may be able to determine the size of pallet you will need based on the items you are shipping, but it's always a good idea to add measurements in the booking notes section. 

Also, if you have placed your order already but realised that you will require a bigger pallet, you should call the courier to try to amend your booking. Speaking with them directly, at the earliest convenience will help increase the chances of such changes being made on your behalf. 

Leaving changes until the very last minute may result in no changes being made. More to the point, if your pallet is too small and you make no effort to amend this with the courier, your goods are more likely to be refused. 

By following the advice above, your pallet delivery should go as smoothly as you’d hoped. No matter how much you think you know, if you are unsure of something when placing a delivery booking, be sure to contact the courier and ask them first. 

The last thing you would want is for your goods to be delivered to the wrong place, or even have the courier refuse the delivery because you selected the wrong pallet size by accident. 

Standard Collection and Delivery Guidelines

When planning on shipping pallets via a pallet courier service, you should know what to expect when it comes to the collection and delivery of your goods. 

To begin with, all pallet delivery companies ask their customers to make sure there’s plenty of solid, flat surface for them to load and unload pallets from their delivery vehicles. 

You should also try your best to make sure someone is present at the time of delivery to see that everything runs smoothly, especially if you can’t be there yourself. 

Failing to assist the courier with the collection or delivery of goods can result in them refusing to go ahead with the booking and you could be charged an additional rebooking fee - so make sure someone is there to help.  

If you struggle to find someone to help the courier on the day, you would need to make them aware of this in advance and explore other options with them. 

How To Get A Pallet Delivery Quote 

Before booking a pallet delivery in the UK and Europe, you’ll probably want to get yourself a few quotes to discover which is the cheapest pallet delivery courier for your region. 

Some pallet delivery companies offer customers a free instant pallet delivery quote through their website, while you might have to contact other couriers directly to request one from them in advance. 

Albeit, you’d probably opt for the quickest option when trying to arrange your pallet delivery, so instant quotes are likely to be your best bet! 

For more information regarding our affordable pallet courier services or even for some friendly advice, please feel free to get in touch with PalletOnline. We are always available via Live Chat or by phone to help with all your pallet queries.