Pallets Gaylords: Your Guide to Buying in the US

In freight and logistics, a Gaylord is a large bulk container — often corrugated, wood, or wood-and-wire — used to ship and store loose materials like plastic pellets, scrap metal, or produce. Gaylords are almost always palletized on a 48x40 GMA wood pallet, allowing forklifts and pallet jacks to move and stack them safely during transit and warehousing.

GMA pallets follow the Grocery Manufacturers Association's industry-standard 48x40 inch stringer design, making them compatible with most warehouse racking, conveyors, and forklifts. Custom pallets are built to specific dimensions, load ratings, or materials — such as 24x24 quarter pallets or 48x48 chemical-industry pallets — when standard GMA sizing doesn't fit your product or handling equipment.

ISPM-15 is an international phytosanitary standard requiring wood packaging material to be heat-treated to 56°C/132.8°F for at least 30 minutes and stamped with the IPPC logo, country code, provider ID, and treatment code. It's mandatory for exporting on wood pallets to most countries, including Canada, the EU, and China, preventing rejection or fumigation at the port of entry.

Yes. Used, recycled, and remanufactured wood pallets are available for industrial shipping, warehouse storage, and distribution operations at lower cost than new pallets. They're inspected and repaired as needed to maintain structural integrity, making them a cost-effective option for businesses that don't require pristine, first-use pallets for their material handling needs.

A 48x48 pallet is the U.S. chemical-industry standard, fitting four 55-gallon drums in a 2x2 configuration and supporting 2,500-3,000 lb dynamic loads. A 44x44 pallet is sized specifically for 275- and 330-gallon IBC totes. Both are available new, recycled, or heat-treated for ISPM-15 export compliance depending on your shipping requirements.

Yes. Beyond standard wood pallets, custom solutions are available in wood, paper, and steel to match specific dimensions, load capacities, and lumber grades. Options range from small 20x24 quarter pallets to oversized industrial builds, with block, wing, or double-wing stringer construction tailored to your product, equipment, and export compliance requirements.