[PL] Shipping wheels on a pallet – packing step by step

Shipping complete car or motorbike wheels requires, first and foremost, the use of suitable cardboard boxes and materials to protect the goods. Although the shipping of wheels on a pallet itself is quite straightforward, it is worth knowing how to protect them during transport so that the wheels and tyres do not suffer even the slightest damage. Below you will find a guide on how to prepare your wheels for shipping by pallet. You will also find out which packing materials to use, so that packing your wheels is quick and safe.

Packing and shipping wheels on a pallet – where do I start?

Before you decide to ship wheels on a pallet, you need to determine how large the shipment will be. You can use shipping half-pallets or Euro-pallets to transport such items. The larger the diameter of the wheels, the more space they will take up on the pallet surface. As a standard, it is assumed that the safest way to ship wheels will be on a Europallet – this is extremely durable and has a large enough surface area to accommodate even several complete wheels at the same time.

When packing your wheels, start by determining how you will arrange them on the pallet. You can do this horizontally or vertically, depending on the size of the item. However, the most recommended method is to lay two wheels diagonally across horizontally, with the next wheels on top of them. This ensures that the tyre is not deformed during transit and the risk of damage to the rim is even minimal.

Operating materials for packing and shipping wheels on a pallet – what is needed?

The shipping of complete sets of wheels on a pallet will only be safe if you have the necessary operational materials to prepare your shipments. We are talking about products and accessories such as:

• Box pallets – are useful, especially if you intend to send wheels with a high value. It is an additional layer which protects the product from mechanical damage and the effects of adverse weather conditions during transport.
• Stretch foil – is the basic material used to protect the surface of rims and tyres. It is enough to wrap the wheels several times to avoid the risk of scratching the rim or scuffing the tyre.
• Kraft packing paper or cardboard dividers – these are useful if you stack the wheels on top of each other when shipping on a pallet. This will prevent the rim from being scratched or otherwise damaged if the item moves during shipping.
• Banding tapes and strapping tapes are useful, particularly when shipping wheels on a pallet. They effectively secure the wheels on the pallet so that they do not move during transit. This significantly reduces the risk of wheel damage.

As an option, you can arrange the wheels for shipping in cardboard boxes, although this is not usually the case. It is also worth getting an adhesive tape gun, a palletiser and protective gloves. This will make the process of preparing the pallet with the wheels for shipping much more efficient.

See also: How many kg can a pallet truck carry?

Now that you know what operating materials and storage accessories you need for shipping wheels on a pallet, you can get down to the practicalities and prepare the shipments for the courier.

Shipping wheels on a pallet – step by step

The procedure for shipping wheels on a pallet is not complicated, although it requires, above all, the full involvement of a warehouse employee in the activities performed. Before you start the pallet preparation process, you also need to know what the differences between pallet trucks are. This will enable you to choose the right vehicle to transport the finished pallet with wheels to the courier’s vehicle.

Packing the wheels for shipping on a pallet is done as follows:

1. Lay the transport pallet on the ground, preferably on a stable surface.
2. Place the first layer of cardboard dividers on the wood surface or place on the pallet box.
3. Then wrap the wheel in stretch film. Optionally, you can give bubble wrap as the first layer to provide an extra layer of protection against damage.
4. Place the secured wheel on the pallet.
5. Secure each further product in the same way and stack them one on top of the other, separating them with a layer of cardboard sheet.
6. Then attach the wheels directly to the pallet using banding tape.
7. Wrap the whole thing in stretch film.

This is all you need to do to prepare the wheels for shipping on a pallet and to ensure that the goods reach the customer intact. The entire packing process takes no more than a few minutes. Wheels of a higher value should additionally be placed in corrugated cardboard boxes. This additionally protects the surface of the rim and tyres from damage, which could be costly and result in dissatisfaction on the part of the customer.

Transporting wheels on a pallet – summary

Remember to also find out how to choose a pallet truck before you start packing wheels for shipping on a pallet. This is essential so that you don’t have any problems later loading or moving the pallet from place to place. When wholesaling tyres and rims, it is always a good idea to develop efficient and safe procedures for packing wheels onto pallets to maximise the time it takes to ship ordered wheels to the customer.