48 x 40 pallets: the standard footprint

Spec at a glance

Different sources give slightly different weights; PHS lists 33 to 48 lb and a static capacity near three short tons. Treat the figures as a range, not a promise.

Why it won

The 1960s GMA pallet was a 48-inch by 40-inch platform that permitted four-way entry. Grocery makers built their cartons, trucks and warehouses around it, and the choice stuck. Trailers hold it two across, racks are cut for it, and most dock equipment expects it.

Where it shows up locally

• Fulfilment and parcel docks in West Valley City.
• Rail-served warehouses in the Northwest Quadrant.
• Consumer-products plants in the Freeport Center.
• Retail and food shippers up and down I-15.

Grades to choose from

Most 48 x 40 stock traded used is Grade A or B; see Grade A and Grade B. For the full measured breakdown with weights, read the GMA pallet guide. Compare all six on the size chart.

Specifying a 48 x 40

Because this size is so common, the usual risk is receiving a mixed grade rather than finding one. A clear request prevents it, and the grade guide shows what to write.

• Grade by name, and whether plugs are acceptable.
• Stringer or block, and four-way or two-way.
• Notched or plain stringers, and flush or protruding nails.
• Deck board thickness and gap: tight for small cartons, wide for lighter weight.
• Dry, covered, or stored in the open.
• Count, and how often you need it.
• Whether the load leaves the country, since that changes which stock is right.

Move off 48 x 40 only when freight demands it: a square product, an automotive customer, a chemical drum, or an import. The sizes hub compares all six.