Understanding GMA Wood Pallets

Descriptions of most GMA 48” x 40” pallets:

Grade “A” Premium Pallets

These pallets are commonly found in retail settings where they will sit out on the sales floor, becoming an integral part of the display.

• Flush.
• 4-way fork entry.
• Each pallet typically has seven boards on its top deck.
• Each pallet typically has five boards affixed to its bottom deck.
• Pallets are built with 6” lead boards on their top and bottom.
• Average spacing between top deck boards is 2-1/2” to 3-1/2”.
• Pallets are manufactured with three stringers that are 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” each.
• Premium pallets cannot have any block or metal repairs made to their stringers.
• No colored or painted stringers can be used in the construction of premium pallets.
• All pallets must be mostly clear of markings or paint on the sides and ends of pallet stringers.

Grade “A” Pallets

This style pallet is often used by the pharmaceutical, food and a few other select industries.

• Flush.
• 4-way fork entry.
• Pallets may have minor chips of cracks.
• Pallets may contain some minor blemishes.
• Pallets typically have seven boards on their top deck.
• Pallets typically have five boards on their bottom deck.
• Average spacing between boards on the top deck is 2-1/2” to 3-1/2”.
• Pallets are produced with three stringers that are 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” each.
• Grade “A” pallets cannot have any block repairs made to their stringers.
• Each pallet stringer can have up to one metal repair plate added to strengthen any split.
• Each pallet may be manufactured with one or more stringer end that has been color coded.
• Pallets may have a limited amount of paint or blank our markings on the sides of its stringers.

Grade “B” Pallets

Grade “B” pallets are considerably less expensive than all “A” pallets and are used primarily in warehouse or shipping settings where it is likely the pallet will not be making a return trip.

• Flush.
• 4-way fork entry.
• Pallets can be no more than two stringers thick at a single point.
• Pallets have plugs/repairs that have been made to the stringers.
• Plugs of various lengths are to be expected on the shipping pallets.
• Stringer repair plugs can be found in various locations on the pallet.
• Pallets have no fewer than four boards affixed to their bottom deck.
• Pallets are produced with three stringers that are 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” each.
• Board width on the shipping pallets will often range from 3-1/2” to 5-1/2”.
• Grade “B” pallets tend to have six to seven boards on top, depending on the total board width.
• Average top deck spacing on each pallet is 2-1/2” to 3-1/2” but is never more than a maximum of 4”.
• Chips, partial splits, multiple blemishes and color degradation are to be expected on this model pallet.

Most other pallet sizes do not refer to the GMA process of grading, but they are available in a number of different conditions.