AN EVALUATION OF VARIOUS TYPES OF DISPOSABLE PALLETS FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING FLORIDA CITRUS

Sixteen disposable pallets were studied for possible use in palletized and unitized shipping of citrus. Each pallet was evaluated according to these requiremnts: (1) they should cost no more than shippers could expect to recoup in handling savings; (2) they should be strong enough to withstand handling and intransit shocks, and to lend stability to the handling unit; and (3) they should provide an acceptable payload when loaded into a highway trailer with other handling units. Most of the pallets did not satisfy all these criteria. Problems encountered included high costs, failure to provide an acceptable payload, and weak construction causing pallet breakdown during handling and shipping tests. Only the fiberboard slipsheets met all the criteria, but specialized and expensive equipment is required to handle them. However, because some citrus shippers and receivers already have this equipment, the corrugated fiberboard slipsheet appears to be the most desirable of the disposable pallets evaluated for unitized handling and shipping of Florida citrus.

• Corporate Authors:

  Agricultural Research Service

  Transportation and Facilities Research Division
  Beltsville, MD  United States 
• Authors:
  • Anthony Jr, J P
  • Rebentisch Jr, J A
• Publication Date: 1970-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 10 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cost effectiveness; Pallets; Stowage; Unitized cargo
• Old TRIS Terms: Cargo stowage; Palletized cargo
• Subject Areas: Finance; Freight Transportation; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00051875
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: ARS 52-43 Intrm Rpt
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 25 1974 12:00AM