Wheel opening
A wheel opening (hand-jack opening) is a space in a pallet's bottom deck where the load wheels of a pallet jack can drop through to the floor. On a GMA-style 48x40 stringer pallet the openings are 9.5 in long, between each bottom lead board and the interior boards, lining up with the stringer notches.
Also called jack opening, hand jack opening, wheel pocket
Reviewed
How wheel openings are laid out
On a stringer pallet, the bottom interior boards are clustered in the middle, leaving openings near each end:
| GMA-style 48x40 bottom deck | Position from pallet end |
|---|---|
| Bottom lead board | 0 to 5.5 in |
| Wheel opening | 5.5 to 15.0 in (9.5 in long) |
| Interior boards | start at 15.0, 22.25 and 29.5 in |
The openings coincide with the 9 in notches that start 6 in from each end, which is why bottom boards must not intrude into the notch zone.
On block pallets, a perimeter or cruciform base leaves openings inside each bay, so jacks can enter from all four sides.
Details that make them work
- Length: long enough for the jack wheels to land without hitting the next board
- Chamfers on the edges the wheels roll over
- Clear height: the fork entry above must be tall enough for the jack forks
Why it matters
Without openings, a pallet jack cannot lift the pallet. With openings in the wrong place, it lifts poorly and breaks boards. See pallet jack compatibility.
Questions
- Do block pallets have wheel openings?
- Yes, when they have a perimeter or cruciform base. The openings inside each bay let jack wheels reach the floor from all four sides.
Related
- Pallet jackA pallet jack is a wheeled hand or powered truck whose forks lift a pallet a few inches. Its wheels need openings in the bottom deck and chamfered lead boards.
- ChamferA chamfer is a bevel on a bottom deckboard edge that lets pallet-jack wheels roll over it. The Uniform Standard calls for 35-45 degrees and at least 12 in long.
- NotchA notch is a cutout in the bottom of a pallet stringer for fork tines. The Uniform Standard recommends about a 2 x 9 in opening with rounded corners.
- Pallet jack compatibility: which pallets work with a pallet jackPallet jack compatibility: stringer pallets take jacks from the ends only, even when notched; block pallets allow more faces, set by the bottom deck.
- Annular nailAn annular (ring-shank) nail has rings around its shank that lock into the wood fibers. It is recommended for softwood and low-density hardwood pallets.
- Bill of materialsA pallet bill of materials (BOM) lists every part with size and count. A GMA-style 48x40 BOM has 15 wood parts, 84 nails and about 13.5 board feet.
Sources
- Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets (NWPCA, now Woodpack Global), 2012 edition
- Guide to Understanding the PDS Specification and Analysis (stringer, inches)