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Pallet Lumber: What to Look for in a Supplier

If you build or repair pallets, your lumber supply is your production line. A late truck or a load of inconsistent boards stops work. This checklist covers what to ask any pallet lumber supplier before you place a standing order.

Consistent sizes come first

Pallet parts have to fit a design. Boards that vary in thickness or width mean extra sorting, extra waste and pallets that do not meet spec. Ask how the supplier cuts and checks dimensions, and whether they can cut to the sizes your designs call for.

Send a drawing or a list of the parts you use. A supplier who reads it carefully is telling you something about how they will handle your orders.

Species and moisture

Most pallet stock is hardwood, and species affects strength, weight and cost. Moisture matters too. Wetter boards are heavier and can shrink after assembly, and some shipping situations require dried wood. Know what your customers expect and buy accordingly.

Ask what species the supplier sells, whether the lumber is green or dried, and how it is stored before it reaches you.

Reliability and communication

The best price is no help if the load does not show up. Ask how far in advance you should order, how the supplier handles a busy stretch and who you call when something goes wrong. A phone call answered by someone who knows the yard is worth a lot.

It also helps to work with a supplier who is upfront about what they can and cannot promise.

Quotes you can compare

Compare quotes on the same terms: same sizes, same species, same drying, same delivery or pickup arrangement. A low price that leaves out freight or loading is not lower. Ask for the whole picture in writing.

If you order in volume, ask how standing orders or repeat pricing work, and how changes are handled.

Local supply has advantages

A sawmill nearby can shorten the wait between an order and a load, and it makes it easy to look at the stock yourself. If a problem shows up, you can walk into the yard and sort it out face to face.

Handling, stacking and storage

How the lumber arrives matters as much as what it is. Boards that are strapped and stacked square are easier to unload and store. Ask how loads are bundled and how your team will handle them at your end, whether by forklift or by hand.

Once the lumber is on your site, keep it dry and off the ground. Even good stock can go bad if it sits in the rain. A little attention to storage protects the money you spent.

Think about your seasonal swings

Many pallet businesses have busy and slow stretches. Tell a supplier about your pattern. If you need extra volume in a certain season, they can plan for it, and you can avoid the scramble of calling around when everyone else is short. A supplier who knows your rhythm can also help you spread orders so you are not paying for storage you do not need.

Ask what happens if you need to change an order. Flexibility has value.

What sizes can you cut, and how do you check them? Which species do you sell, and is it green or dried? How much notice do you need for a standing order? How is freight handled? Who do I call if a load is wrong? Write the answers down, then compare suppliers side by side rather than from memory.

Finally, start small if you are switching suppliers. Order one load, inspect it carefully, build a batch and see how it performs on your line. A trial run tells you more about a supplier than any sales conversation, and it keeps a bad surprise from becoming a costly one.

Ask Heartland Hardwoods

Heartland Hardwoods, a family owned sawmill in Effingham, Illinois, cuts lumber for pallet and crate makers. Send us your part list or call to talk through sizes and quantities, and we will tell you what we can supply.