Skid vs Pallet in Freight Shipping

If you have ever wondered what the real difference is between a skid and a pallet when shipping freight, this guide will break this down for you. In the world of freight shipping, terms like “skid vs pallet” may be difficult to understand, but choosing the right ones saves both time and money.

This guide unwraps what a skid is, what a pallet is, and how they compare against crates, so you can choose the best option for your shipping.

Know the Difference Between Skid and Pallet

If you look at online images, skids and pallets might appear identical in freight shipping, but the difference is too big to be ignored.

What Is a Skid

A skid is a single-deck platform, usually wooden, with a top deck sitting on runners that lift it off the ground, often sized at 48”x40”. Skids stand out for their customizable dimensions, ideal for unique loads in skid freight, but they’re not great for piling up when empty or moving around.

Nestable skids, made from lightweight plastic with stackable molds, reduce the return shipping costs and meet weight limits, making them a smart solution for cost effectiveness.

We now know what a skid is. Let’s move on to learning more about pallets!

What Is a Pallet

A pallet is built for stability in freight shipping. The pallet's definition ultimately highlights its ability to adapt to the freight’s weight, spreading it evenly. This keeps the freight secured, which down the road reduces safety concerns but may increase shipping rates due to the additional weight.

While versatile for warehouses and retailers, pallets are easy to move with forklifts, handling a wide range of freight in logistics operations.

So, skids vs pallets–which is the best for you? Let’s find out!

Pallet vs Skid vs Crate - What to Choose

Choosing between a skid, pallet, or crate for freight shipping feels a bit like choosing the right tool for a job —it’s all about what fits your needs.

The difference between pallet and skid comes down to design and purpose, while crates add another layer for specific loads like fragile items. In a nutshell, pallets offer stability for heavy stacking, while skids save on cost for one-way trips, and the crates protect your fragile freight..

Understanding their strengths is crucial, so let’s get to know them better:

When to Use a Skid

Considering that skids come with a single top deck on runners, they are ideal for specific freight shipping requirements when budget plays a vital role. Skids are not perfect for heavy loads, but they come in handy due to their lightweight platform, which is ideal for custom/temporary jobs.

Here are some real-world examples where skids are the perfect solution:

• Non-Stackable Load: Skids can easily handle freight that can’t be piled up, such as machinery with odd shapes.
• Bulky, Irregular Items: The custom-built skids can easily fit any freight with awkward dimensions that won’t sit naturally, unlike skid packages.
• One-Way Shipping: Skids are perfect and cheaper for single trips, since they use less material, which ultimately reduces costs.
• Temporary Storage: Skids are ideal for short-term housing in warehouses before the freight is moved out.
• Low Shipping Budget: Skids are cost-effective, requiring less wood to be produced when compared to pallets or crates.
• Custom Dimensions: Skids come in handy when you need to load irregularly shaped freight, with custom dimensions, size, and weight.

In short, if you’re looking for one-off shipments or tight budget shipping, skids will surely get the job done without the extra expenses. We now know what is a what is a shipping skid is, so let’s move on and learn more about pallets.

When to Use a Pallet

Pallets are crafted with robust top and bottom decks, making pallet shipping ideal for stability, reliability, and heavy loads. The pallet’s strong platform can handle different freight, and most importantly, it supports stacking, making it the preferred option amongst the process systems.

Here’s when you may come down to choosing pallets over skids:

• Bulk Shipping: Pallets are ideal for long shipping routes with multiple stops due to their robust design, allowing seamless loading/unloading.
• Warehousing: The pallet’s design, allowing them to stack over each other, enables quick and easy movement in storage and tight spaces.
• Long Storage: The strong pallet’s design can hold up for extended periods when stored in a warehouse without breaking down.
• Frequent Moves: Palettes are built for repeated forklift handling, which reduces damage to their architecture and loaded freight.
• Versatile Loads: Handles a wide range of products, from boxes to heavy equipment, without potential concerns.
• Safety First: The pallet’s stable structure reduces workplace accidents during transport or stacking, which makes it an ideal choice for logistic services.

In short, pallets are your best solution if you’re looking for a reliable, high-volume shipping or storage solution, keeping goods secure.

When to Use a Crate

Crates, like wooden crates or palletized crates, are the heavy-duty protectors of shipping, built to shield sensitive or valuable items. Unlike the skid or pallet, a shipping crate fully encloses the freight, offering extra security for delicate items or high-value loads.

Here are some examples where crates would be your best choice:

• Fragile Goods: Crates ultimately safeguard glassware or electronics that can easily be damaged during the transportation process.
• Delicate Freight: Crates will protect freight such as artwork or medical equipment that needs extra care and transportation insurance.
• Heavy Machinery: The wood crate is designed to secure massive equipment for safe transportation across large distances.
• Air Freight: The crates can meet strict industry standards for secure, enclosed shipping for delicate freight over air transportation.
• Export Shipping: Crates are perfect for international hauls where the freight faces rough handling during the logistics.
• Custom Protection: Crates are designed to fit specific items, ensuring nothing shifts during transit.

For shipments where damage isn’t an option, crates offer peace of mind, wrapping your goods in a tough, tailored package.

The Verdict - Are Skids and Pallets the Same Thing?

Now that we’ve learned what a skid is in shipping and what the difference is between a pallet and a skid, we can conclude that they are not the same thing.

The main skid or pallet differences lie in their unique methods of handling freight, how they are being stored, and transported. Each offers unique strengths, advantages, and disadvantages.