Pooled pallet
A pooled pallet is owned by a pooling company (such as CHEP, PECO or iGPS) and rented to shippers, who pay per use or trip instead of buying pallets. North American pooled pallets are 48x40: CHEP and PECO use wood block pallets and iGPS uses plastic. Costco requires pooled block pallets and accepts purpose-built pallets only by exception.
Also called rental pallet, pallet pool
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How pooling works
The pooler supplies pallets, the shipper uses them to send goods, and the pallets are recovered from the receiver, inspected, repaired and reissued. Pooled pallets are usually color-branded so they can be identified and returned.
North American pools
| Pool | Pallet | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CHEP | 48x40 wood block | |
| PECO | 48x40 wood block | |
| iGPS | 48x40 plastic | about 50 lb, edge-rackable with a 2,800 lb capacity, per iGPS |
Pooled vs purchased pallets
| Pooled | Purchased (e.g. GMA-style) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | pooler | shipper |
| Design | fixed by the pool | any design |
| Cost model | rental and trip fees | purchase price |
| Retailer acceptance | required by some (e.g. Costco) | varies |
When to design your own instead
Pools cover the standard 48x40 footprint. Odd sizes, heavy or drum loads, export one-way shipments and captive loops usually need purchased pallets. Retail programs change, so confirm with the current vendor guide. See pooled pallet and Costco pallet requirements.
Questions
- Can you buy a CHEP pallet?
- No. Pooled pallets are rented and remain the property of the pooler.
Related
- Pooled pallet: renting pallets from CHEP, PECO and iGPSPooled pallets are rented, not bought: CHEP, PECO and iGPS own them and move them between users. In North America they are 48x40 block pallets.
- Block classBlock class is the pallet class whose top deck sits on blocks, usually 9, joined by stringerboards. EPAL and 48x40 pooled pallets are block class.
- Costco pallet requirements for suppliersAs documented in 2026, Costco requires pooled block pallets; purpose-built pallets need a PDS report with racking capacity and a deflection limit.
- 48 × 40 block pallet drawing and specs48 × 40 in block pallet: 5-3/4 in tall, about 96 lb, 75 nails, 21.9 board feet. To-scale drawing, parts list and cut sizes.
- Remanufactured palletA remanufactured pallet is rebuilt from recycled components, often resized. For export it must be re-treated and re-marked to ISPM 15.
- Reusable palletA reusable (multiple-use) pallet is built for many trips, with higher lumber and nail standards. Uniform Standard minimum nail withdrawal characteristic: 1.9.