Load Securing . How to Pack a Pallet.

Load Securing. How to Pack a Pallet.

Creating an optimal shipment requires a strong packaging culture at every stage. Load securing, in terms of stability, is essential to ensure smooth and trouble-free transportation.

Below are all the key steps for proper load securing and understanding how to pack a pallet correctly:
a) Choose suitable cardboard boxes, preferably double-wall cartons, as they are more resistant.
b) The box dimensions must be designed so that the goods inside have no room to move. This optimizes the overall volume of the pallet and the entire load, making the load secure.
c) Use treated pallets. Wooden pallets intended for international trade undergo phytosanitary treatment in order to eliminate any harmful organisms.
d) To ensure proper load securing, palletize the cartons with the goods up to the edges of the pallet, without exceeding the pallet dimensions.
e) Fill any empty spaces with bubble wrap so that the completed pallet is as compact as possible.
f) If necessary, use pallet covers suitable for the type of goods being shipped.
– Standard pallet covers with rings on the lower edges to secure them to the pallet using numbered security seals.
– Thermal pallet covers for goods sensitive to temperature fluctuations.
– Waterproof pallet covers.
g) Pallets loaded onto a vehicle, such as a container, must not have empty spaces between them. Use air-filled dunnage bags to prevent movements that could damage the load.
h) Loaded containers must be sealed with high-security seals certified according to ISO 17712:2013

All these precautions are decisive for load securing and for customer care service, while at the same time helping you avoid being overwhelmed by complaints, emails, and phone calls. A well-structured shipment allows your Brand to be remembered as an example of efficiency and reliability.

Palletizing Goods on a Pallet.

Understanding how to palletize goods correctly allows you to avoid risks during your shipments and ensures that your products arrive intact at their destination.

LeghornGroup has been operating in the logistics sector for many years and has extensive experience in preventing tampering during transportation. In practice, this means making the load as secure as possible. This also requires solid expertise in selecting the most suitable products to achieve proper packaging.

Choosing the Right Pallet.

Since in most domestic and international shipments pallet return is not expected, the best choice is a pallet that is as light as possible so that it does not significantly affect the total load weight, while still being robust enough to withstand impacts and as cost-effective as possible. Both pressed-wood pallets and plastic pallets can be used.
It is absolutely necessary to consider the FAO ISPM 15 regulation, which governs the preparation of wooden packaging materials for international shipments. In addition, each country applies further restrictions to protect its territory from contamination or parasites.
For this reason, using a lightweight plastic pallet may be advisable if you want to avoid the risk of goods being held at customs due to non-compliance with a specific regulation. For shipments with frequent transport cycles, pressed-wood pallets are recommended, as they are slightly more expensive but much more robust than plastic pallets.

How to Position Goods on a Pallet.

When dealing with stacked cardboard boxes, it is always advisable to choose double-wall cartons, as they are more resistant and contribute to better load securing. It is also a good idea to place a sheet of corrugated cardboard on the bottom of the pallet to protect the first layers from moisture and to distribute the weight evenly across the entire pallet surface.
Another important precaution is to place the heaviest boxes at the bottom of the pallet and stack the lighter ones on top. In this way, dangerous collapses are avoided.

It is good practice to position the boxes as close as possible to the edges of the pallet, taking care not to exceed them. This ensures maximum pallet stability and prevents the risk of box breakage or tearing.

It is absolutely important to avoid building a pyramid by placing smaller boxes on top. The best solution is to alternate large and small boxes with the goal of achieving a cube-shaped structure. In practice, load securing is achieved by making every single step as safe as possible.

External Protection of the Pallet.

Once your products have been positioned optimally, you can move on to the protection phase. First of all, wrap any sharp surfaces and edges with bubble wrap or polyethylene rolls.

After that, cover the entire load with stretch film to ensure that the goods are compact. At this point, it is time to use strapping to secure the load to the pallet. A single strap is sufficient when securing one single carton. However, two passes are required when multiple cartons are present.

If you are shipping loose goods or cartons containing small-sized products, the ideal solution is to use corner protectors for strapping. This prevents the straps from damaging the cardboard boxes or the goods themselves.

Pallet Covers.

There are essentially three types of pallet covers:
a) Simple nylon covers with eyelets at the base, used to secure them to the pallet with numbered security seals. These security covers ensure that the goods are not tampered with or stolen during transport.
b) Thermal covers that maintain the thermal stability of the shipped goods for a certain period.
c) Waterproof covers designed to prevent rainwater infiltration that could damage the cartons.

All these types of pallet covers and the related security seals are manufactured by LeghornGroup.

How Pallets Must Be Loaded into Containers

The International Maritime Organization, through circular no. 1497 dated 16/12/2014, specifies how a container must be filled correctly to achieve maximum load security. This regulation aims to prevent damage to the cargo inside the container, which, if shifting, could cause a chain reaction of damage inside the vessel.

Once the pallets have been properly prepared, it is necessary to ensure the stability of the entire container load by eliminating empty spaces between pallets using air-filled dunnage bags. (Air bags)

How to Seal a Container

It is essential to seal the container, regardless of the type of goods inside, using high-security seals such as bolt seals, cable seals, or barrier seals manufactured by LeghornGroup and approved according to ISO 17712 standards. These seals are ideal for containers, trucks, and trailers.
LeghornGroup offers a complete range of high-security container seals that meet the requirements of ISO 17712:2013.

To achieve maximum load securing, it is recommended to use a passive RFID technology seal capable of indicating, upon reading, the condition of the container: open, closed, or tampered. These are the three ESSENTIAL pieces of information required to ensure the correct and secure closure of a container.

Final Checks

Before opening the container, verify that the seal matches the shipping documentation.
Seal model
Color
Numbering
These are the first details to be checked.

It is important to open the container with great care, as the load may have shifted and could fall.

© 2025 LeghornGroup IT Team 7401-A2066