In today's day and age, the demand for bulky goods is growing and there are specific carriers who are equipped to ship this type of freight.
Palletising freight in bulk is a common practice in the e-commerce industry but the capacity and process for each carrier can be very different. But, don't worry we've got you covered!
Shipping bulky, unpalletised freight? No problems, we can help with this too!
What are bulky goods?
The term 'bulky' in the e-commerce industry refers to goods that require pallets, skids, tail-lifts, forklifts, or unable to be lifted by hand according to OHS standards. Anything over 30kg should not be lifted by hand.
The types of consumer goods can include furniture, flat-packs, outdoor furniture, BBQs, white goods, appliances, building & landscaping supplies, alcohol cartons.
B2B freight transfers on wrapped pallets/skids
B2C consolidated goods placed on a pallet (usually broken down at the depot for inidvidual delivery to consumers)
a loose heavy, long or odd-shaped item item (generally over 25kg) which needs to be placed on a pallet/skid
any palletised freight
When do I need to use pallets?
Although some people may be able to lift heavier than others, the standard OHS limit is 30kg before goods are required to be placed on a skid or pallet for machine assistance.
Drivers need heavy goods placed on pallets/skids to ensure they can easily lift the goods onto their truck with a fork lift. It also enables the end -mile driver to lift off the pallet easily & safely at the delivery point.
Chain Of Responsibility requires all parties involved in the transportation of bulky freight, to do so safely.
Shippit will automatically book the required vehicle type for heavy goods when orders are booked or manifested so it is the sender's responsibility to ensure you're packaging the bulky freight correctly.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website can help outline the Chain Of Responsibility (COR) within the transport industry.
How to best pack pallets?
The standard pallet size in Australia is 1.165m x 1.165m and can usually hold a weight limit of up to 2000kg. However, carriers each have their own restrictions so be sure to check this before you start shipping.
Although not ideal, it is also possible to place wider and higher items on pallets; this is called an 'oversized pallet'. A maximum width of 2m and height of 1.5m is generally accepted but again, it's essential to check carrier restrictions.
Stackable pallets are most ideal to maximise capacity within the truck. It also helps them to avoid those not-so-fun games of tetris which are time consuming for the driver, and will result in surcharges for the sender.
Goods over 30kg should generally be placed on a pallet to avoid carrier surcharges if they have to palletise it for you.
Stack within the dimensions of the pallet and don't stack pallets too high.
Keep pallets level & stackable. Carriers will not accept pallets with over-hanging goods and you will have to pay a surcharge if your pallet isn’t stackable.
Stretch wrap your pallets. Use pallet wrap or at least two straps from both sides to hold items in place. Strapping and wrapping should include the pallet itself.
Label pallets clearly. Affix to the side, not the top as another pallet may be stacked on top of yours.
See our Packaging Guidelines for more info!
Which carriers can ship bulky goods?
See our Carrier Matrix for more info.
Carrier
Service | Palletised
Freight | Bulky Loose or
Unpalletised |
Allied Express | Yes | No |
Bonds | Yes | No |
DHL e-commerce | Yes | No |
Hunter Express | Yes | No |
Neway | No | Yes
*surcharges apply for assistance at delivery point. |
TNT Road | Yes | No |
Team Global Express IPEC | Yes | No |
How do I start using bulky goods carriers on Shippit?
Firstly, ensure your choice in carriers is suitable for carrying bulky/palletised freight but checking our Carrier Matrix.
Download and complete a Bulky Goods Request Form
Return it to your Shippit representative or [email protected] and we'll help get you set up.