Four-way pallets: entry on every side

BOX 01What makes it four-way

A block pallet is four-way by design. A stringer pallet becomes four-way when notches are cut in the stringers on both long sides. The standard GMA pallet of the 1960s was a 48 by 40 inch platform that permitted four-way entry per iGPS, so four-way is not new.

BOX 02Where it matters

• Warehouses running pallet jacks from any side.
• Racking systems that load from several aisles.
• Pooled freight, where the next dock is unknown.
• Export containers loaded by a mix of equipment.

The cost is weight and price. A four-way pallet is usually heavier than a two-way one, and four-way stock is thinner on the used market. If your dock only has forklifts, two-way is cheaper.

BOX 03Asking for it

In a request, say four-way or block, and give the size. Details of the block frame are on the block page, and the stringer notch variant is on the stringer page.

BOX 04Notched stringers and blocks

Four-way entry comes from two different constructions. A block pallet leaves a gap between the blocks on all four sides. A notched stringer pallet has semicircular cuts in each stringer so forks can enter from the long sides, at some cost in strength.

The two behave differently under load, and a buyer may care. A notched stringer pallet that has cracked at a notch is usually a core.

BOX 05Why a dock would ask for it

In a tight yard or a trailer where turning is costly, four-way entry saves time. Parts warehouses and order-picking floors are the usual users. Related pages: block pallets and 48 x 45, a size that often comes with four-way entry.

BOX 06The weight penalty of notches

Cutting notches into stringers removes wood where the load is carried. A notched stringer pallet is therefore rated lower than a plain one of the same size, and it is more likely to crack at a notch. For heavy loads, a block pallet gives four-way entry without the same loss of strength.

This does not make notched pallets bad. For light loads in tight spaces they are a sensible, cheap compromise.

BOX 07Four-way and the pallet jack

A hand jack can enter a four-way pallet from any side, which is handy when the pallet sits against a wall. In a retail stockroom with narrow aisles, four-way entry can save time. The extra cost of the build is usually modest.

BOX 08Looking for four-way marks

Four-way pallets often carry a stencil or brand that says so. Some manufacturers also use a distinctive stringer cut. If there is no mark, count the openings: a four-way pallet has an open space on each side, large enough for forks.

BOX 09A note on racking

In a rack, forks usually enter from the aisle side. Four-way entry adds nothing there, and a two-way pallet works. The advantage appears where a pallet must be picked from the side, such as a stack against a wall or a dense floor layout.