Pallet vs Skid
The words pallet and skid are used to refer to a platform that supports goods in a stable manner while they are being loaded or transported through a jack or a forklift. It is a flat surface that increases handling and storage efficiency. You must have seen goods and even shipping containers being kept on these wooden surfaces if you have ever been to a dock. The goods are often secured with strings when kept on these pallets. Though people use the words pallet and skid interchangeably, there are differences between the two that will be discussed in this article.
The word pallet is used when the wooden platform is empty. When it is loaded the wooden assemblage is referred to as skid. Unlike pallets, skids lack a bottom deck for added security when transporting heavy items. Wooden skids sometimes are also called platforms. Skids are often used as a permanent foundation for heavy machinery as they have the advantage of being mobile. They are not permanent in nature and can be used as a cheap version of pallets when there is a need to transport machinery and equipment from a manufacturer.
Though most pallets are wooden, they are also being made with plastic and even metal. There are pros and cons of every material used for the construction of pallets. The use of pallets increased because of containerization as clean and straight bottoms of containers aid in easy pallet movement. Since pallets help in easy movement and loading and unloading of shipping containers, every year half a billion new pallets are made. There are over 1 billion pallets in use in the US at present. Pallets can carry a load of about 1000kg and can be easily hauled with a forklift truck.
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In brief: • Flat wooden surfaces made to keep goods and shipping containers and to haul them using forklift truck are called pallets. • While the wooden assemblage is called a pallet, it is referred to as skid when loaded.
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