Containerized Shipments:
palletized cargo in container shipments
The Table: Pallet Count below gives an idea of the number of pallets a standard dry cargo container can accommodate, assuming that each pallet is stacked with cargo to 4.5' high and each pallet itself is about 5.5" high (or the total height of each loaded pallet is about 5 feet).
To show the gross weight (Gr. Wt.) of each pallet, it is assumed that the acceptable maximum payload to consignees in a 20' container is 17,500 kgs. and in a 40' is 24,000 kgs.
Table: Pallet Count
| 20' CONTAINER (FOR EXAMPLE WITH 17,500 KGS. PAYLOAD) | |||||
| Pallet Nominal Size |
Total No. of Pallet |
Total |
Gr. Wt. Each Pallet (kgs.) |
||
| Deep | Wide | ||||
| 45" x 53" ◆ | 4 | 2 | 8 | 663 | 2,188 |
| 45" x 45" ◆ | 5 | 2 | 10 | 703 | 1,750 |
| 44" x 52" | 4 | 2 | 8 | 636 | 2,188 |
| 44" x 44" | 5 | 2 | 10 | 672 | 1,750 |
| 41" x 49" ◆ | 5 | 2 | 10 | 698 | 1,750 |
| 40" x 48" ◆ | 5 | 2 | 10 | 667 | 1,750 |
| 40" x 40" | 5 | 2 | 10 | 556 | 1,750 |
| 36" x 45" | 6 | 2 | 12 | 675 | 1,458 |
| 36" x 36" | 6 | 2 | 12 | 540 | 1,458 |
| 35" x 44" | 6 | 2 | 12 | 660 | 1,458 |
| 34" x 45" | 6 | 2 | 12 | 638 | 1,458 |
| 33" x 44" | 7 | 2 | 14 | 706 | 1,250 |
| 40' CONTAINER (FOR EXAMPLE WITH 24,000 KGS. PAYLOAD) | |||||
| Pallet Nominal Size |
Total No. of Pallet |
Total |
Gr. Wt. Each Pallet (kgs.) |
||
| Deep | Wide | ||||
| 45" x 53" ◆ | 8 | 2 | 16 | 1.325 | 1,500 |
| 45" x 45" ◆ | 10 | 2 | 20 | 1,406 | 1,200 |
| 44" x 52" | 9 | 2 | 18 | 1,430 | 1,333 |
| 44" x 44" | 10 | 2 | 20 | 1,344 | 1,200 |
| 41" x 49" ◆ | 10 | 2 | 20 | 1,396 | 1,200 |
| 40" x 48" ◆ | 10 | 2 | 20 | 1,334 | 1,200 |
| 40" x 40" | 11 | 2 | 22 | 1,222 | 1,091 |
| 36" x 45" | 13 | 2 | 26 | 1,463 | 923 |
| 36" x 36" | 13 | 2 | 26 | 1,170 | 923 |
| 35" x 44" | 13 | 2 | 26 | 1,430 | 923 |
| 34" x 45" | 13 | 2 | 26 | 1,381 | 923 |
| 33" x 44" | 14 | 2 | 28 | 1,412 | 857 |
The ◆ indicates the more frequently used pallet size in the export shipments.
It is apparent from the Table: Pallet Count that the palletized cargo leaves a lot of excess space, considering that the capacity of standard container in a 20' is about 1,170 cu. ft. (33.131 CBM) and in a 40' is about 2,385 cu. ft. (67.535 CBM). Therefore, if the palletized cargo is light, the freight cost per cubic unit in a container is high.
The moving and static load capacity of a pallet may vary considerably. For safety reasons, limit the weight of the palletized load to 1,000 kgs. (2,204.6 lbs.).
The packing (loading) of a container generally is faster when the cargo is palletized. However, the loading of palletized cargo can be time consuming if the loading equipment, such as forklift and pallet truck, cannot enter the container (please see Packing (Loading) and Emptying the Containers for related information).
