Articles › Buying & Pricing
Pallet Rental Near Me
How It Works & Why Buying Costs Less
Florida Pallet Supply • Updated April 2026
Florida Pallet Supply • Updated April 2026
Many businesses searching for "pallet rental near me" are actually looking for something simpler than they realize: a way to get pallets without committing to ownership. Pallet rental programs exist - CHEP, PECO, and iGPS are the main providers - but they come with fee structures that often cost more than simply buying and owning your pallets. This guide breaks down how pallet rental actually works and who it genuinely benefits.
Pallet rental programs operate on a "pool" model. The pallet company owns a large fleet of pallets (hundreds of millions for CHEP), rents them to shippers, tracks them through the supply chain, and retrieves them from retail DCs and distribution points. You pay per pallet per trip.
| Provider | Pallet Color | Approx. Rental Rate | Network Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEP (Brambles) | Blue | $5-$6/trip base + loss/damage | Largest - 300M+ pallets |
| PECO (Pallet Management) | Red | $4-$5/trip base | Large - strong in grocery |
| iGPS | Gray/tan (plastic) | $7-$9/trip (plastic premium) | Niche - pharmaceutical focus |
Base rates don't include pallet loss fees ($25-$35/lost pallet), damage fees, or audit costs. Effective per-trip costs are typically $8-$12 for CHEP in open-loop supply chains.
Pallet rental is genuinely cost-effective in specific supply chain structures. Be honest with yourself about whether your operation fits:
For a mid-size distributor using 1,000 pallets per month with a typical 10% loss rate in an open-loop supply chain:
| Cost Component | CHEP Rental | Buy Grade A GMA (owned) |
|---|---|---|
| Base pallet cost/trip | $5.50 avg | ~$2.00 amortized (5-trip life) |
| Loss fees (10% rate) | $2.80/trip equivalent | $0 |
| Damage fees (5% rate) | $0.65/trip equivalent | $0 |
| Admin / reconciliation | 3 hrs/mo staff time (~$75) | Minimal |
| Monthly total | ~$9,450 | ~$2,000-$2,500 |
| Annual total | ~$113,400 | ~$24,000-$30,000 |
Owned pallet cost assumes Grade A GMA at $10/pallet purchase price, 5-trip average life before replacement. CHEP loss rate varies widely by supply chain type.
At 1,000 pallets/month, switching from CHEP to owned Grade A GMA saves most operations $80,000-$90,000 per year. We'll help you calculate your exact numbers.
Calculate Your Savings →The most common reason businesses search for "pallet rental" is a short-term or one-time need - a trade show, a seasonal production peak, a one-time large shipment. For these situations:
Technically yes - CHEP and PECO offer pallet rental for one-time shipments. But the economics rarely make sense for a single event. For a one-time need of 200 Grade B pallets at $6 each, buying costs $1,200. CHEP rental for the same 200 pallets at $5.50/trip plus loss fees would cost $1,200-$1,800 and require setting up a rental account. Buying Grade B and either keeping or selling back is usually cheaper and simpler for one-time needs.
Florida Pallet Supply does not offer traditional pallet rental. We sell pallets outright - new and recycled GMA pallets in Grade A, B, and C. We also offer pallet buyback programs, where you can sell surplus pallets back to us. For ongoing operations, our standing delivery programs provide the convenience of rental (regular delivery, predictable supply) without the rental fees, loss charges, and administrative overhead.
To exit a CHEP account: (1) audit your current pallet count and confirm all outstanding invoices; (2) return all rented CHEP pallets to a designated CHEP service center or arrange a pickup; (3) pay any outstanding loss or damage fees; (4) close the account through your CHEP account manager. Most operations complete the process in 60-90 days. Florida Pallet Supply can help you transition to owned pallets during this period to ensure supply continuity.
No rental fees. No loss charges. Yours to own.
Grade A GMA pallets from $9-$13 each. No rental account, no loss charges, no ongoing fees. FL, GA, NJ, MD, DE delivery.
Get Free Quote →Get Free Quote
Request Pricing →