Non-Palletized Freight: What Is It and How Is It Shipped?

Resources > Non-Palletized Freight: What Is It and How Is It Shipped?
Non-palletized freight is a unique way of shipping freight that has many benefits that businesses can enjoy. Discover how it’s shipped and if this method suits your shipping needs.
Published: January 13, 2022
Last Modified: February 3, 2025
Author: Jacob Lee

One of the most common items in the freight shipping industry is the simple pallet. Pallets have been in use for more than 80 years and are used to load and organize freight for shipping. However, a good portion of goods shipped in the U.S. are classified as non-palletized freight.

Key takeaways:

  • Non-palletized freight is any cargo that’s not secured to a pallet.
  • Shipping non-palletized freight can save you money by reducing the space you’ll use in a trailer.
  • Labor costs are higher for non-palletized shipments and fragile cargo is more likely to be damaged.
  • Non-palletized cargo is loaded one at a time from the floor of a trailer to the ceiling. 

In this article, we will discuss everything that you need to know about shipping non-palletized freight.

What Is Non-Palletized Freight?

Non-palletized freight is also referred to as floor-loaded freight and constitutes any type of cargo that is not secured by a pallet. In the next two sections, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of shipping this kind of cargo.

Pros of Non-Palletized Freight

Numerous benefits come with shipping freight without using a pallet. 

These include:

  • Reduced costs on pallets
  • Maximize space in a trailer
  • More flexibility for oddly shaped boxes 
  • No need for pallet jacks or forklifts

While pallets are reusable for multiple shipments, there are upfront and repair costs you’ll have to pay. You can avoid these expenses when your floor load cargo.

Non-palletized freight uses up less space in a trailer. How so?

It’s loaded from floor to ceiling, which utilizes all the space available in a trailer or container. By maximizing space, multiple non-palletized freight shipments can share the same trailer or container. 

Some boxes can be too awkwardly shaped to fit on a pallet. Not using a platform will be more beneficial for this variety of items, as you will have access to more flexible loading options. 

You won’t need to purchase or maintain pallet jacks and forklifts when you ship floor loaded freight. This will also help you save on additional expenses

Related: Pallet Requirements for International Shipments

Cons of Non-Palletized Freight

There are a few downsides to floor-loaded shipments that you should know about. 

  • Unsafe for fragile cargo
  • Higher labor costs
  • Longer load times
  • Heavy packagers are harder to load

Fragile cargo isn’t well-suited for floor-loaded shipping. Without the security a pallet can offer, it will be more likely to sustain damage

While shipping costs for palletless freight might be cheaper, labor costs are likely to be higher. The loading and unloading of non-palletized freight has to be done by hand. Unfortunately, handling the freight manually makes the loading and unloading a much longer process. As a result, receiving and logging in stock takes longer as well.

Heavier products that are shipped without pallets are especially difficult to load and unload. A non-palletized shipment shouldn’t be heavier than 130 pounds. 

If you are planning to ship freight that exceeds this weight limit, then you should consider placing it on a pallet.

Related: Shipping Skid vs Pallet

How Common is Non-Palletized Shipping

Shipping freight without a pallet might seem reckless. However, non-palletized freight is fairly common in the shipping industry.

In 2020, there was about 12.5 billion tons of freight shipped nationwide and about 1.9 billion of shipping pallets were used. The standard pallet can carry a little over two and a half tons.

That means 4.75 billion tons of freight distributed by 1.9 billion shipping pallets annually. This means that the rest of the 7.75 billion tons that travels the nation is shipped as non-palletized freight. 

The graphic shows the total amount of freight shipped in the U.S., the amount shipped on pallets, and the amount of non-palletized cargo.

Keep in mind, many non-palletized freight shipments are for small-parcel delivery. Therefore, you should consider using a pallet if you’re shipping larger loads sent to warehouses or supermarkets.

How Is Non-Palletized Freight Loaded?

Loading non-palletized freight requires the utmost care. Since products aren’t secured by a pallet, there is a higher likelihood that they can bounce around and get damaged inside a trailer or container. 

This can be difficult because loose freight can vary in size, shape, and weight. This can make proper stacking and securing a challenge. Loading should be done with extra care. 

As we mentioned earlier, non-palletized freight is loaded into containers and trailers from floor to ceiling. While loading freight in this manner might sound self-explanatory, there are still important steps that need to be followed to ensure the freight is loaded properly. 

  1. Start stacking a wall of freight by placing the heavier and average-sized boxes on the floor first. This type of freight will make up the base of the wall. 
  2. Put lighter boxes in the middle and top parts of the wall.
  3. Place tall and thin boxes on the sides of the wall. 
  4. Lastly, small, extremely light and sometimes tall and thin boxes are to fill the remaining spaces at the top of the stack.

The guidelines for loading non-palletized freight may differ based on the company receiving the load, but they will roughly follow the steps we’ve listed. 

Whatever the exact requirements are, make sure you follow them correctly. Non-palletized freight that’s loaded improperly could potentially fall on dockworkers. Items inside the packages may sustain damage as well. 

How Is Non-Palletized Freight Shipped

Non-palletized cargo is shipped the same way that palletized cargo is. Non-palletized freight can travel by ship, plane, cargo containers, trailers and by train. Another popular method of transport for non-palletized freight that most people have experienced is by a delivery truck. 

Ship Freight with USA Truckload Shipping

If you need to ship freight in bulk, USA Truckload can help by partnering you with a reliable carrier. We have a vast network of transportation providers all over the country. They’ll be able to pick up your freight from a location of your choosing and move it to the final destination. When you pick USA Truckload, you’ll also get access to a variety of shipping services.

Start your partnership with USA Truckload today by filling out your Request for Proposal (RFP). Our team is also available at (866) 353-7178 if you have any questions about the services we provide.

Start Shipping with USA Truckload
If you're ready to boost your supply chain, then get started by filling out your USA Truckload quote. 

One comment on “Non-Palletized Freight: What Is It and How Is It Shipped?”

  1. Hello,

    I’m trying to ship a large piece of brewing equipment that measures about 5 ft x 5 ft x 5 ft and weighs 370 lbs. It is on casters and not on a pallet.

    Ship from:

    Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago
    Megan Schwarz
    901 West Kinzie
    Chicago, IL 60607
    Lift gate required.

    Ryder Warehouse
    Attn: Mike Stolarek BTC TAX PAID CAGE
    1701 Remington Blvd
    Bolingbrook, IL 60490
    Needs to be off loaded at a standard dock door.

    Can you assist with this?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


USA Truckload Shipping Logo
© Copyright 2025 R+L Global Logistics

R+L Global Logistics
315 NE 14th St., Ocala, FL 34470

(866) 353-7178
magnifiercrosschevron-down