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Should I palletize my boxes for international shipping from the USA?

If you ship more than three to five boxes or smaller items from the USA abroad, you must palletize them.

Shipping several loose boxes internationally is unsafe. Some cartons can be damaged, fall apart, or even be lost. Loose boxes are handled by hand, and there is no guarantee that they will be appropriately handled. Reliable carriers refuse to accept unpalletized cargo.

Forklifts efficiently manage palletized cargo during international transportation from the U.S., preventing damage and loss of goods.

You can palletize cargo or request an ocean freight carrier to palletize your boxes at the carrier's freight terminal (CFS). Palletizing at CFS should cost you about $35 to $50 per skid, including the cost of the certified pallet. Please remember that the more accurately your items fit into skids, the less "dead cargo volume" affects your international shipping cost. Refer to the guidance for shipping pallets from the U.S. overseas.

The dimension of the standard U.S. pallet used in international cargo transportation from the USA is 48" x 40" x 6" (or 1.2m x 1.0m x 0.15m). Cargo is stacked on pallets and shrink-wrapped by a plastic film called "pallets" or "skids."

Even though standard-sized pallets are most commonly used in international cargo transportation, there are various pallets of other sizes and forms. Pallets must be strong enough to hold the loads, accessible for forklifts, and fit into 40-foot sea freight containers. Items exceeding 72" are considered oversized and subject to surcharges.

Suppose you request an ocean freight carrier's terminal (CFS) to palletize your boxes or smaller units. In that case, the CFS will appropriately stack the cargo on certified ISPM15 pallets and shrink-wrap it. Each pallet will carry as many shipping items as it can combine.

If you palletize your cargo on your own, then follow these rules:

• It is not recommended to exceed the height of the skid more than 60" (1.52m). The height of the skids depends on the strength, weight, and size of the boxes.
• The entire skid should be shrink-wrapped and secured with a plastic film.
• Bases of pallets should be accessible for pallet jacks with a minimum clearance of 3.5".
• All skids prepared for international transportation from the USA must fit into a 40' multimodal sea freight container.
• When palletizing cargo for shipping from the U.S. overseas, always pay attention to wood packing restrictions that apply in international cargo transportation.

Sometimes, people who ship internationally ask, "Should I deliver my boxes to an international shipping company freight terminal open, or can I seal them?"

The answer is yes. You can seal your boxes. Only Customs has the right to open boxes during international transportation. If Customs needs to open boxes, shippers will be notified or will see special marks indicating that Customs has opened the boxes. 

Please find more information about palletizing when shipping freight from the USA on the website.