Pallets by the truckload, on a schedule
A truckload of pallets is a full trailer, bought once or on a repeat. On a 53-foot dry van, 48 x 40 pallets single stacked come to 26 when they run lengthwise and up to 30 when they are turned, and the exact count depends on the trailer and the load pattern.
- 01Unit
- One trailer
- 0248 x 40, lengthwise
- 26 single stacked
- 0348 x 40, turned
- Up to 30 single stacked
- 04Repeat
- Weekly or monthly, if you ask
BOX 01How a truckload is counted
Counting pallets on a trailer is arithmetic. Assume a 53-foot trailer is about 630 inches long and 98 inches wide inside, within the ranges trailer makers publish. Run the 48-inch side along the trailer: 630 ÷ 48 gives 13 rows, and two pallets fit across because 2 × 40 = 80 is under 98. That is 13 × 2 = 26. Turn the pallets so the 48-inch side crosses the trailer: 2 × 48 = 96 still fits, and 630 ÷ 40 gives 15 rows, so 15 × 2 = 30.
Those two figures match the common rule of thumb quoted by ATS: 26 straight, up to 30 turned. The trailer-count guide shows the working. Stacked pallets, weight limits and carrier rules change the real number.
BOX 02Who buys by the trailer
A plant that ships on the same pallet every week, or a distribution center whose outbound loads run on one size and grade, is the buyer. A single trailer saves handling and sets a stock the dock can plan around. Distribution and fulfillment docks in DeSoto and Southeast Memphis are the typical case.
- Name the size and grade for the whole load.
- Say whether it repeats, and about how often.
- Give the delivery ZIP code and any dock restrictions, such as no stringer pallets or no loading after dark.
BOX 03A one-off load or a schedule
A first request can be a single trailer. If the stock works, the same request can ask for it to repeat. What a schedule looks like is settled between buyer and seller. State what you want in the request.
For smaller needs see used pallets, and for a spec-built run see new pallets.
BOX 04Working out what a schedule needs
A schedule starts with your outbound count. If a line fills 12 trailers a week with 48 x 40 pallets loaded lengthwise at 26 each, it ships 312 pallets in the week, and a supplier delivering to it needs to bring at least that many. Loaded crosswise at 30, the same 12 trailers carry 360.
These are arithmetic, not promises: the calculation uses the assumed trailer interior of 630 by 98 inches described on the trailer guide. A real trailer may differ by a few inches, and a mixed load changes the count. Give your own number if you have one.
FAQStraight answers
How many pallets are in a truckload?
For single-stacked 48 x 40s on a 53-foot dry van, 26 lengthwise and up to 30 turned. Stacking, weight and the trailer itself can change it.
Last reviewed 12 November 2026. Sources: