Pallet questions, answered.

Our standard minimum for delivered recycled pallets is one full truckload, which is roughly 400 to 560 units depending on the pallet size and how they are stacked. Smaller will-call pickup orders at our Este Avenue yard can start at a single bundle of 10 to 25 pallets. If you need a partial truckload delivered, we can arrange it as an LTL shipment, though the per-pallet cost rises to cover freight.

Pricing moves with grade, volume, and local supply, but recycled 48×40 GMA pallets typically run from about $4.50 for a #2 grade up to $9 to $11 for a premium remanufactured #1. Full-truckload buyers see the lowest per-unit prices, while small quantities carry a handling premium. Because the used-pallet market fluctuates weekly, we quote firm pricing that holds for 7 days.

Yes. While recycled and remanufactured pallets are our specialty, we build new pallets when a customer needs consistent appearance, a specific load rating, or a non-standard size we cannot source used. New pallets are common for export, food-grade, and automated-handling applications. We will always tell you honestly when recycled will do the job for less.

Price is driven by size, grade, order volume, delivery distance, and the current cost of recovered lumber, which fluctuates with the broader wood market. Full truckloads to nearby destinations cost the least per unit, while small or long-haul orders carry proportionally more freight. We break the quote down so you can see exactly what drives the number.

Grading is central to our reputation, so if a delivered load does not match the grade you ordered we will make it right with a replacement, credit, or adjustment. We inspect and stack by grade before loading precisely to avoid this. Report any discrepancy promptly with photos and we will resolve it quickly.

Full-truckload deliveries within our core Midwest zone usually have freight built into the quoted per-unit price with no separate surcharge. Smaller LTL orders, long-haul deliveries, and periods of high diesel prices may carry a delivery fee that we disclose in the quote. Will-call pickup at our Cincinnati yard avoids freight charges entirely.

Yes, buying used and surplus pallets is a core part of our business. Email us the pallet size, approximate quantity, condition, and your pickup location, and we will send a per-unit offer within one business day. For qualifying loads across the Cincinnati and Greater Midwest area we schedule our own trucks and haul them at no cost to you.

Buyback pricing depends on size, grade, and quantity, but standard 48×40 GMA pallets in reusable condition generally earn $1.50 to $4.50 each picked up at your dock. Odd sizes, damaged, and non-standard pallets are valued lower and are often paid on a per-load basis rather than per unit. Consistent, high-volume sellers can set up a standing account with scheduled pickups and locked pricing.

Under our buyback program we sell you quality recycled pallets and then repurchase your empties once your product ships out, keeping wood in a closed loop. We set up a scheduled pickup cadence tied to your volume, whether weekly, biweekly, or on-call. This lowers your net pallet cost and eliminates the headache of stockpiling empties in your yard.

Yes, we regularly clear pallet inventory from facilities that are moving, downsizing, or shutting down, and we can handle large one-time removals on short notice. Send us a count, sizes, condition, and location and we will quote a buyback or removal price and schedule trucks. It is a fast way to recover value and clear your space before a deadline.

New accounts typically start with payment on delivery by check, ACH, or credit card. Established business customers can apply for net 30 terms after a short credit review and a few completed orders. For buyback loads where we owe you money, we pay by check or ACH within our standard settlement cycle after the load is received and counted.

Everything runs through email since we operate lean and pass the savings on. Send your pallet size, grade, quantity, and delivery address to info, and we will reply with a firm quote and available ship dates. Once you approve, we confirm the order, schedule the truck, and send you tracking and paperwork.

Yes, mixed orders are common, for example a load of #1 grade 48×40 pallets alongside a smaller quantity of 48×48 units. Each line is priced according to its own size and grade, and we combine them onto one truck when the volumes make sense. Just list everything you need in your email and we will build the quote.

Base it on your peak weekly outbound shipments plus a buffer for pallets tied up in transit and at customer sites, which is often 2 to 3 times your daily ship volume. If you run a buyback loop with us the standing quantity you need to own drops significantly. We are happy to walk through your flow and suggest a starting quantity.

Include the pallet size or dimensions, the grade or condition you want, the quantity, your delivery address or pickup preference, and any special requirements like heat treatment or a specific deck configuration. For selling or removal, add photos and your location. The more detail you provide, the faster and more accurate our quote will be.

Our most common stock is the 48×40 GMA footprint, but we regularly carry 48×48, 42×42, 36×36, 48×45, and 40×48 pallets, plus a rotating supply of odd and custom sizes. Availability changes with what comes through our recycling stream, so we recommend emailing your target size and quantity. If we do not have it recycled, we can often build it new to spec.

Yes. We stock both traditional stringer pallets, which use three parallel runners, and block pallets, which use nine support blocks for true four-way forklift and pallet-jack entry. Block pallets are common in export, automotive, and beverage programs, while stringer pallets dominate general Midwest warehousing. We can advise which style fits your handling equipment and load profile.

The 48×40 GMA pallet is the North American standard and the most widely available, followed by 48×48 for drums, 42×42 for beverages and telecom, and 36×36 for retail. Anything outside those common footprints, or with a special deck or load rating, is treated as custom. Custom sizes usually carry a longer lead time and a slightly higher price.

A stringer pallet uses long boards, called stringers, running the length of the pallet to support the deck, and forklifts usually enter from two sides with partial access on the others. A block pallet uses solid blocks at nine points, giving genuine four-way entry that is easier for pallet jacks and automated systems. Your choice depends on your handling equipment and whether the pallet needs to be accessed from all four sides.

A #1 grade 48×40 pallet is structurally sound with no more than one or two replaced or repaired boards and a clean, uniform appearance suitable for automated handling and retail programs. A #2 grade has been repaired more heavily, may show cosmetic wear, and is fine for general warehouse and one-way shipping use. We inspect and sort every incoming pallet so the grade you order is the grade you receive.

We supply ISPM-15 compliant pallets that are heat-treated and stamped with the IPPC mark and our registered facility code, which is required for wood packaging shipped internationally. Heat treatment raises the wood core to 56°C for at least 30 minutes to eliminate pests. Let us know your destination country and we will confirm the correct treatment and marking before shipping.

ISPM-15 is the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15, a global rule governing solid-wood packaging used in international trade. It requires wood to be heat-treated or fumigated and marked with the IPPC wheat stamp so it does not carry invasive pests across borders. Non-compliant pallets can be refused, quarantined, or destroyed at the border at the shipper's expense.

We can supply cleaned, well-graded pallets suitable for many food-adjacent warehousing uses, and we recommend heat-treated units over chemically treated ones for these applications. For direct food-contact or pharmaceutical programs with strict requirements, a new or dedicated pallet is usually the safest choice. Tell us your standard and we will match the right product.

Yes. Some domestic customers prefer heat-treated pallets because heat treatment kills insects and mold without chemicals, which suits food-adjacent and moisture-sensitive storage. Heat-treated units carry the IPPC stamp and cost a bit more than untreated recycled pallets. If you want the treatment for domestic use only, just note that so we mark and document it correctly.

We build custom pallets to your exact dimensions, board spacing, deck configuration, and load rating using new or remanufactured lumber. Common custom requests include heavy-duty pallets for machinery, tight-deck pallets for small cartons, and non-standard footprints for specialized racking. Send us a drawing or the length, width, and load weight and we will quote a build.

Yes. Send us a sample pallet or clear photos with a tape measure in frame, and our team will reverse-engineer the dimensions, board count, and fastener pattern. We keep the resulting spec on file so reorders are consistent every time. This is a common request from customers who inherited a pallet design from a previous supplier.

A sizable run of new custom pallets generally takes 1 to 2 weeks depending on lumber availability, the complexity of the design, and current shop workload. Once we have your approved spec on file, reorders move faster because the setup is done. For urgent projects tell us your deadline and we will confirm feasibility before you commit.

Yes, right-sizing a pallet to your product often cuts both damage and freight cost by improving load stability and cube utilization. We look at your carton dimensions, stacking pattern, and weight to recommend deck spacing, board thickness, and footprint. Small design changes, like closer top boards for small cartons, can meaningfully lower damage rates.

We deliver throughout the Greater Cincinnati region and the broader Midwest, including Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and neighboring states, using our own fleet and trusted freight partners. For large recurring programs we arrange nationwide delivery through contract carriers. Local metro deliveries usually go out within 2 to 4 business days of order confirmation.

In-stock recycled pallets within our core Cincinnati and tri-state delivery zone typically ship in 2 to 4 business days. Custom-built or specialty sizes require a longer lead time, generally 5 to 10 business days depending on lumber availability and volume. Rush orders can sometimes be accommodated, so tell us your required date and we will confirm what is achievable.

Yes, will-call pickup is available at our yard at 5748 Este Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45232 by appointment. Pickup avoids freight charges and is popular with local customers who run their own box trucks or trailers. Email us to schedule a time and confirm quantity so your order is staged and ready when you arrive.

Absolutely. We service warehouses, 3PLs, and manufacturers that move thousands of pallets per week through scheduled deliveries and coordinated empty pickups. High-volume accounts get locked pricing, priority scheduling, and a single point of contact for both supply and removal. Send us your weekly usage and we will design a program around it.

Yes. Beyond simple supply we manage the full pallet lifecycle for larger customers, including scheduled empty pickups, on-site sorting, and reporting on recovery rates. This reverse-logistics approach keeps your dock clear, recovers value from your empties, and gives you data for sustainability reporting. It is popular with distribution centers that receive far more pallets than they ship.

A standard 53-foot dry van holds about 500 to 560 stacked 48×40 pallets depending on stack height and whether they are single or double stacked. Loose or unstacked pallets take up more room and reduce the count. When we quote a truckload we confirm the exact count so you know precisely what is arriving.

For contracted volume customers we can hold agreed quantities and release them on a scheduled or on-call basis, effectively acting as your off-site pallet buffer. This frees up your dock space while guaranteeing supply when you need it. Storage arrangements are set up per account, so email us your expected draw-down pattern.

While our roots and fleet are in Cincinnati and the surrounding Midwest, we ship nationwide for larger and recurring programs using contract carriers. National orders are quoted with freight to your specific destination. Reach out with your location and volume and we will confirm whether a national delivery makes sense for you.

For loads that contain a workable share of reusable pallets, removal is typically free because the good units offset the scrap. When a load is mostly broken or non-standard material, we may charge a modest per-pallet or per-load haul fee to cover labor, freight, and grinding. We always quote the net cost or credit up front so there are no surprises.

Pallets too damaged to repair are dismantled and ground into wood fiber rather than sent to a landfill. That fiber is sold as landscape mulch, animal bedding, and boiler-grade biomass fuel, while usable boards are pulled for repairs and remanufacturing. Metal fasteners are magnetically separated and recycled through local scrap partners.

A properly graded and repaired recycled pallet carries loads comparable to a new pallet of the same class, which is why they are trusted across manufacturing and distribution. Every recycled pallet we ship is inspected for cracked stringers, loose boards, and protruding nails before it leaves the yard. For extreme loads or specialized handling we can recommend a heavier build or a new custom pallet.

A remanufactured pallet, sometimes called a combo, is built by combining sound, salvaged components from dismantled pallets into a like-new unit at a lower cost than all-new lumber. These pallets meet standard 48×40 specifications and are ideal for cost-sensitive shipping programs. They keep good wood in service and reduce demand on virgin lumber.

Incoming pallets are unloaded, visually inspected, and sorted by size and condition before anything is sold. Repairable units move to our repair line where cracked or missing boards and stringers are replaced, while sound units are graded and stacked for shipment. Anything beyond repair is dismantled for parts or ground for fiber, so nothing is wasted.

Sound salvaged boards return to our repair and remanufacturing lines, ground wood fiber becomes landscape mulch, animal bedding, and biomass boiler fuel, and separated nails go to a metal recycler. This keeps essentially the entire pallet out of the landfill. Local landscapers and boiler operators are regular buyers of our processed fiber.

Every recycled pallet you buy keeps roughly 30 to 50 pounds of solid wood out of the landfill and avoids the carbon tied to harvesting and milling new lumber. Reusing and repairing pallets extends the life of that wood through multiple trips before it is finally ground into mulch or biomass. Choosing recycled is one of the simplest, lowest-cost sustainability wins in a supply chain.

For managed accounts we can report the number of pallets diverted from landfill, pounds of wood recovered, and estimated CO₂ avoided through reuse. That documentation supports ESG disclosures, zero-waste-to-landfill claims, and internal sustainability dashboards. Ask us to include reporting when we set up your program and we will deliver it on your preferred schedule.

We operate as an IPPC-registered facility authorized to heat-treat and stamp ISPM-15 compliant wood packaging, and we follow accepted pallet grading conventions used across the industry. Our recycling practices align with wood-diversion and zero-waste-to-landfill goals. We can provide relevant treatment records and documentation for compliance-driven customers.

Handling quotes and orders by email keeps our overhead low, creates a clear written record of every spec and price, and lets us respond thoughtfully rather than off the cuff. It also means your pallet dimensions, quantities, and delivery details are documented so nothing gets lost in translation. Most customers find the written confirmation reassuring for their own purchasing records.

We were founded in Cincinnati in 2009 and have spent more than fifteen years buying, selling, recycling, and remanufacturing wood pallets for Midwest and national customers. Over that time we have processed millions of pallets and built long-standing relationships with warehouses, manufacturers, and distributors across the region. That experience means dependable grading, honest pricing, and reliable pickups.

Our core business is wood, but we can advise on and occasionally broker plastic pallets for customers who need washable, export-friendly, or long-life units. We do not currently recycle plastic or metal pallets ourselves. If you have a mixed load of wood and non-wood pallets, let us know and we will sort out what we can take.