Palletized loads.

TM 38-400/NAVSUP PUB 572/AFMAN 23-210 MCO 4450.14/DLAM 4145.12

and the carrier. Explosives and ammunition will be

e. Palletized loads.

palletized in accordance with approved procedural

(1) Advantages. The

advantage

of a

publications/drawings issued by the military services.

palletized load is that a quantity of small packs or units

(2) Forming pallet loads. Palletized load may

can be consolidated into a few large packs; thereby,

form a full uniform load, a tiered load, a staggered load,

reducing the number of handlings. For example, 300

or a strapped load. The load should be balanced,

containers of a given item can be consolidated into 10

weight should be evenly distributed, and blocking and

pallet loads, thus, reducing the number of handlings by

bracing should be kept to a minimum. A staggered load

more than 96 percent. Consequently, the number of

of palletized items is illustrated by figure 3-41. The

handlings involved in loading and unloading may be

pallets are staggered to obtain a compact balanced

reduced from 300 to 10. Accordingly, palletization of

load.

materials for shipment would be beneficial to the shipper

Figure 3-41. Staggered palletized loading.

g. Flatbed truck and trailer loading. The basic

principles of weight distribution, tight loading, and

(3) Pallet size for maximum utilization.

prevention of load movement all apply to the loading of

Pallets must be suitable for handling by all media of

open top vehicles. Materials loaded on an open top

transportation for maximum utilization. the general

vehicle will be secured to the vehicle to prevent any

service pallet, 40 by 48 inches, meets these

possibility of the load shifting or falling off the vehicle,

requirements.

shifting

and

contacting

other

traffic,

fouling

f: Strapped pallet loads. Generally, pallet loads

underpasses, culverts, bridge abutments, and creating a

are strapped fore and aft and are secured on all sides.

hazard to pedestrians. When the trucks and trailer,

Blocking and bracing is kept to a minimum as the weight

either open or closed, are military equipment, it will be

of the load combined with floor blocking of the bottom

the responsibility of the driver to assure that the vehicle

tier prevents the load from shifting in transit.

3-73