Custom Wood Skids and Dunnage in Indianapolis

Skid or pallet: what is the difference?

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A skid has runners on the bottom but no bottom deck boards. A pallet has deck boards on the top and the bottom. Without a bottom deck, a skid sits lower and can be set on rollers, so it works well under heavy machines and equipment bases.

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A skid is not always the right call, though. Some conveyors and rack decking are built for a bottom deck. If your load goes into racking or on a conveyor, tell us before you switch.

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What dunnage is

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Dunnage is the wood that keeps a load from moving. That includes:

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• Blocking: wood pieces fastened around a load to keep it from sliding

• Bracing: boards that push against the load or the container walls to hold it in place

• Spacers: strips that separate layers, so a forklift can get between them and products do not rub

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In other words, dunnage is what keeps a 2,000-pound part from sliding into the trailer wall when the truck brakes.

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Built to your load

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Tell us about the load and how it ships, and we source the skids and dunnage to match:

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• Product dimensions and weight

• How it is handled: forklift, pallet jack, crane or rollers

• How it ships: flatbed, van trailer or ocean container

• Any height limit, such as a container door

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For tall loads in containers, a low-profile skid can save a few inches of height. Sometimes that is what lets the load fit at all.

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Export loads need ISPM-15

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Skids, blocking and bracing are solid wood packaging. If they leave the country with your product, they need ISPM-15 heat treatment and the stamp. That includes a plywood crate sitting on solid wood skids. Read more about heat-treated pallets.

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How to order

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Call or text Curt at 765-661-3643, Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM. Send the dimensions, the weight and how many you need. If the job needs a full crate instead of a skid, we also source custom wood crates, and custom wood pallets when a skid will not do.

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Questions about skids and dunnage

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Can you cut dunnage to length?

Yes. We source blocking, spacers and bracing cut to the dimensions you give us.

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Can you help size skids for a container?

Yes. Send your product dimensions and the container size. We will suggest skid heights and blocking that fit more product while still protecting it.

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Are skids cheaper than pallets?

Often, since a skid uses less wood than a pallet of the same size. Custom sizes and heavy runners change that, so we quote each job.