Palletising and preparing freight for interstate and international shipment

To palletise freight, stack cartons squarely on a sound pallet with no overhang, heaviest goods at the bottom, then stretch wrap the load tightly to the pallet base. Label at least two sides and record accurate dimensions and weight on the consignment note. The Australian standard pallet measures 1,165 x 1,165 mm and carries up to 2,000 kg in standard use. For international shipments, solid timber pallets must be ISPM 15 compliant or treated to clear Australian biosecurity.

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Pallet preparation checklist

1. Choose the right pallet size and check it for damage.
2. Stack heavy, square cartons at the base in an interlocking pattern.
3. Keep the load within the pallet edges.
4. Stretch wrap from the base up, overlapping each layer by one third.
5. Label two sides, including the forklift entry sides.
6. Measure and weigh the finished pallet.
7. Complete the consignment note and any dangerous goods paperwork.

Choose the right pallet

Pallet choice affects how many units fit on a truck or in a container, and what you pay. Australian domestic freight runs on the square Australian standard pallet, while much international freight uses smaller ISO sizes.

Pallet	Footprint	Typical use
Australian standard	1,165 x 1,165 mm	Interstate road and rail freight, hire pools
Euro (EUR)	1,200 x 800 mm	European origin cargo and containers
ISO 1,200 x 1,000 mm	1,200 x 1,000 mm	Asian and international cargo

A Loscam Australian standard wooden pallet weighs about 34 kg and carries up to 2,000 kg in standard use. Inspect every pallet before loading and reject any with broken boards, protruding nails or missing blocks.

Build a stable load

A stable load protects your goods and the people who handle them. Follow these stacking rules:

• Place the heaviest and strongest cartons on the bottom layer.
• Stack cartons corner to corner, then interlock alternate layers like brickwork.
• Keep every carton within the pallet edges. Overhang crushes cartons and weakens stacks.
• Keep the top flat so the pallet can be stacked or strapped safely.
• Add corner boards or a top sheet for fragile or tall loads.

Irregular or fragile items need extra protection. Our fragile freight team handles goods that cannot be palletised in the standard way.

Shrink wrap the pallet correctly

Stretch wrap binds the cartons and the pallet into one unit. Transcoast’s guide to shrink wrapping a pallet sets out the method:

1. Interlock goods on the pallet with no overhang.
2. Tape labels to outer cartons on the forklift entry sides.
3. Tie the wrap to the pallet base.
4. Wrap the base several times, keeping the film tight.
5. Work upward, overlapping each layer by at least one third.
6. Tape down loose film with masking tape.

Wrapping the film around the pallet itself, not only the cartons, stops the load sliding off the base in transit.

Label, measure and document

Accurate details prevent re-weigh charges and misrouted freight. Label each pallet on at least two sides with the consignment number, receiver name and address, and handling marks such as “Fragile” or “Do not stack”.

Measure the length, width and height of the finished pallet, including the pallet base, and record the gross weight. Carriers charge on actual or cubic weight, whichever is greater. Our express cubing calculations page shows how cubic weight works. Record these details on the consignment note.

Meet load restraint and chain of responsibility rules

Pallets for interstate road freight must be restrained to Australian performance standards. The NTC Load Restraint Guide 2018 requires restraint of 80% of the load’s weight forwards, 50% sideways and rearwards, and 20% upwards if the load is not fully contained.

Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, chain of responsibility duties apply beyond the driver. Consignors, packers and loaders share responsibility for safe loading. A well-built, accurately declared pallet is how shippers meet that duty.

For part loads on Australian roads, see our guide to LTL freight and our interstate freight service.

Prepare pallets for international shipment

International pallets face biosecurity and space rules that domestic pallets do not. Solid timber pallets must carry the ISPM 15 mark, be treated before export or be treated on arrival. Plastic, plywood and reconstituted wood pallets avoid this requirement.

For sea freight, the DAFF packing declaration must state whether timber packaging is present and how it was treated. Missing or unreliable declarations increase the chance of inspection on arrival.

Container fit also matters. Two Australian standard pallets side by side measure 2,330 mm, wider than the 2,300 mm internal width of a 20-foot container listed on our container dimensions page. Plan the layout with your forwarder before you build pallets for export, or use ISO pallets for sea freight.

Frequently Asked Questions