Used rackable plastic pallets
Used rackable plastic pallets are built to sit on rack beams with a stated racking load. A used one is only worth buying for racking if it still has a rating and no repair, so we state both.
- Example weight
- 44.2 lb (48 x 40)
- Example static / dynamic / edge rack
- 10,000 / 4,000 / 2,000 lb
- Material
- Co-polymer polypropylene, injection molded
- Per 53 ft trailer
- 540
What a racking rating is
Racking is the weight a pallet carries bridging an open span in unsupported racking, and it is often the lowest of the three ratings. Only pallets designed for unsupported racking carry one. Edge rack means resting on the rack beams by the pallet's edges only, with no support in the middle. PP is more rigid than HDPE, which is why rackable pallets are often made of it.
| Rating | Plain meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Static | At rest | 10,000 lb |
| Dynamic | In motion | 4,000 lb |
| Edge rack | On beams by the edges only | 2,000 lb |
| Racking (other model) | Across an open span | 2,700 lb |
What used does to a rackable pallet
Wear that is harmless on the floor can matter on a rack. Scuffed runners are fine. Deep gouges or a bowed deck are not, because the load sits on a few contact lines. A weld changes the design the rating was calculated for, so a repaired rackable is described for floor-level work only unless the maker says otherwise.
- Deck: no bow, no cracks
- Runners and edges that touch the beams: whole and flat
- Rating: on the deck plate, or from the maker, in writing
- Repaired: not described for racking
Asking for racking rated lots
Say in the request that the pallets go on racking, and give the rating you need. If a lot cannot show a rating, the reply says so, and the lot is offered for floor use or not at all.
What a racking rating needs
Only pallets designed for unsupported racking carry a racking rating, and it is often the lowest of the three ratings a maker publishes. It assumes an even load, a given beam spacing and a pallet in its original state. A crack, a weld or a worn runner can invalidate the figure. If you need racking, ask for a lot with the plate intact and the maker named, and ask your racking supplier or engineer to confirm that the pallet suits your beams.
Beam spans and deflection
A rack beam supports a pallet along its two long edges, and the pallet bridges the gap between beams. The wider the gap, the more the deck deflects under a load. A pallet rated for a given beam spacing may sag past a safe limit if the spacing is larger. Tell your racking supplier the pallet model and ask them to confirm it suits the spacing, because the pallet and the rack are one system.
Beam seat and pallet runner
The point where a runner meets a beam is a narrow seat, and runners that are worn thin or flattened bear on less of the beam than the design assumed. Look along the bottom of each runner for polish, chips or a rounded edge, and reject any pallet whose runners look different from their neighbours.
Photographs worth taking
- One wide shot of each stack with a tape or a person for scale.
- The four corners of a sample pallet, close enough to show gouges.
- The underside, including the runners and the bottom of each fork pocket.
- Any plate, label, moulded number or mark, shot square on and in raking light.
- Repairs and cracks, with a coin or a ruler beside them to show size.
Comparing two lots fairly
- Use the same footprint for both, measured in the same units.
- Compare grade by wear, not by the seller's letter.
- Count makers present in each, since fewer makers means a more uniform lot.
- Compare the share of repaired pieces, and where the repairs sit.
- Set freight, timing and handling beside the wear, rather than in place of it.
Walk-around checklist
The same four stops for every lot, in order. Tick each as you go.
- 1Deck: flat to a straightedge
- 2Corners: beam-contact edges whole
- 3Runners: runners flat along their length
- 4Fork pockets: pockets open for the equipment
- Rating shown or sourced
- No repairs near load paths
Words used on this page
- Racking load
- Weight a pallet carries bridging an open span in unsupported racking. Often the lowest rating.
- Fork pocket
- Opening in the pallet where the forks go.
- PP
- Polypropylene. More rigid than HDPE and better with heat and harsh chemicals; used where rack stiffness matters.
- Welding repair
- Plastic is hard to glue, so cracked parts are normally welded.
- Static load
- Weight a pallet carries at rest, or the bottom pallet carries when stacked. The highest of the three ratings.
What the sources say
- Static capacity is the highest of the three ratings; racking is often the lowest; dynamic is always lower than static. nelsoncompany.com
- That Nelson model is under 5 in tall, which the page says suits air freight, and works with automation and most roller conveyors. nelsoncompany.com
- Rehrig Pacific's 40 x 48 rackable pallet weighs 44.2 lb with a dynamic rating of 4,000 lb, static 10,000 lb and edge rack 2,000 lb. rehrigpacific.com
- HDPE is the most common resin in plastic pallets; PP is more rigid and the page recommends it for unsupported racking. nelsoncompany.com
How a request works
- Pick the footprint, then the grade you can live with.
- Say what the pallets will carry and how many you need.
- Read the written lot description that comes back.
- Agree the lot before anything moves.
The four grades, in a line each
- Like new. A few trips only. Clean, no cracks, no missing parts, deck and runners flat.
- Used and clean. Many trips, scuffs and colour variation, but whole and usable for general-purpose or closed-loop work.
- Repaired. A cracked or chipped part welded or swapped. Some designs use snap-lock parts for repair.
- Mixed lot. Mixed makers, colours and sizes sold by the truckload, sorted by footprint.
Questions people ask
Can any used pallet go on racking?
Only pallets designed for unsupported racking carry a racking rating. No rating on the deck plate, no rack promise from us.
Is a repaired rackable still rackable?
We do not describe it for racking.
Why PP for racks?
PP is more rigid than HDPE and is recommended for unsupported racking.
Ask for a lot
Pick a footprint and a grade. The reply describes a matched lot in writing.