Pallets Built for Intermodal Freight
Intermodal loads move by truck, rail, and sometimes ocean - each mode adding handling events and structural stress. Start with pallets built to survive the full journey.
Intermodal loads move by truck, rail, and sometimes ocean - each mode adding handling events and structural stress. Start with pallets built to survive the full journey.
A pallet that holds together fine for a regional truck move may fail completely under three days of rail vibration and two container transfers.
Intermodal shipping combines the efficiency of rail with the flexibility of over-the-road trucking, but the pallet at the center of each load takes a beating across every mode transfer. At the origin, a forklift loads the pallet into a container. The container is then lifted onto a rail car, exposed to sustained vibration over hundreds of miles, lifted off again at an intermodal terminal, and finally moved by drayage truck to the consignee. Each step adds handling stress - and a pallet with pre-existing cracks, loose boards, or compromised stringers may not survive them all intact.
For domestic intermodal moves, 48x40 GMA stringer pallets are the standard because they optimize container space - two rows fit flush across the floor of a standard 40-foot or 53-foot container with minimal lateral shift. Grade A recycled pallets work for domestic moves, but Florida Pallet Supply recommends using our most structurally sound stock for intermodal given the extended handling exposure. New pallets are the safest choice for high-value or fragile goods moving by intermodal rail.
For international intermodal moves, ISPM-15 certified heat-treated pallets are a legal requirement. Every pallet crossing an international border must carry an IPPC stamp confirming it has been heat-treated to the standard required by the destination country. Florida Pallet Supply carries export-certified pallets for shippers moving freight through Port Tampa Bay and other Florida export points. Compare options at our pallet types page or contact us for volume pricing.
Florida exporters and intermodal shippers in the Tampa Bay region rely on Florida Pallet Supply for ISPM-15 certified pallets that clear customs without delays - and for GMA-spec domestic stock that holds up across the full rail and truck journey.
Choose based on destination - domestic rail moves need structural integrity; international moves also require ISPM-15 certification.
Heat-treated and IPPC-stamped pallets required for all international intermodal moves. Compliant with customs requirements in over 180 countries.
View Export Pallets →Brand-new 48x40 GMA stringer pallets for high-value intermodal freight and domestic rail moves where structural integrity is the top priority.
View New Pallets →Structurally certified recycled GMA pallets for cost-sensitive domestic intermodal programs where load weight and dimensions are within standard ranges.
View Recycled Pallets →Common questions from intermodal shippers, freight forwarders, and drayage operators.
ISPM-15 certified and GMA-spec pallets delivered to your facility or container stuffing location across Central Florida and Tampa Bay.