Guide: Cruciform base and runners
The base of a pallet decides what it can do on a conveyor, a rack and a pallet jack. Runners give a flat, continuous contact; a cruciform or legs base gives less contact and more nesting.
Three bases
| Base | What it looks like | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legs or feet | Separate feet at the corners and middle | Nesting, lighter weight | Conveyor catching |
| Cruciform | Cross-shaped base, a plus under the pallet | Conveyors, a stable footprint | Racking depends on span |
| Runners | Continuous rails under the pallet | Racks, conveyors, stacking stability | Does not nest |
Nestable pallets use legs or feet, because separate legs can drop into the legs of the pallet below. Runners are the opposite: continuous rails cannot nest. This is why a nestable gives up some flatness and why a rackable is stiff.
Match the base to the machine
- Conveyors want a continuous contact, so runners or a cruciform base catch less.
- Pallet jacks need clear entry between the legs or runners; ask whether the entry is 2-way or 4-way. PHS Plastic lists 4-way entry on all but one of its stackable models.
- Racks rest the pallet on its outer rails; the base should lie across the beams without hanging over.
- Automation and RFID readers may need a particular face or a flat spot.
Nelson Company notes that its 4.8 in model works with automation and most roller conveyors. A short pallet can be a good fit for a conveyor opening.
A beam load worked out
Take a pallet with a 2,000 lb racking load. A loaded pallet of 1,174 lb uses 58.7 percent of it and leaves 826 lb; one of 2,792 lb is 792 lb over. Rack engineers also apply their own safety margins, so treat the figure as a ceiling.
| Loaded pallet, lb | Share of the racking load | Left over, lb | Within the rating? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,174 | 58.7 percent | 826 | yes |
| 1,377 | 68.8 percent | 623 | yes |
| 1,580 | 79.0 percent | 420 | yes |
| 1,883 | 94.2 percent | 117 | yes |
| 2,186 | 109.3 percent | -186 | no |
| 2,389 | 119.4 percent | -389 | no |
| 2,792 | 139.6 percent | -792 | no |
A stack worked out
Take a stackable rated 12,000 lb static. The bottom pallet carries the pallets above it, so with each loaded pallet weighing 1,399 lb it can hold 8 above, a stack of 9. With 5,441 lb per pallet it can hold 2 above. This is a ceiling on a flat floor for a still stack, not a promise for a stack that moves or waits.
| Loaded pallet, lb | Pallets above the bottom | Stack height | Load on the bottom pallet, lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,399 | 8 | 9 | 11,192 |
| 1,906 | 6 | 7 | 11,436 |
| 2,413 | 4 | 5 | 9,652 |
| 2,920 | 4 | 5 | 11,680 |
| 3,427 | 3 | 4 | 10,281 |
| 4,434 | 2 | 3 | 8,868 |
| 5,441 | 2 | 3 | 10,882 |
Choosing between the two bases
A cruciform base suits conveyors and pallet-flow lanes, because its plus-shaped footprint slides smoothly, while runners suit flat floors and beams, because their long rails spread the load. A site with both rack and conveyor may need two models, which is a reason to write the base type into the specification beside the footprint.
Words on this page
- Pallet jack
- A hand or powered truck with two forks, used to move a pallet short distances.
- Nest ratio
- How many empty pallets fit in the height of one: pallet height divided by nest increment.
- Footprint
- The length and width of a pallet deck. It is chosen to fit the container, the drum, the bag or the receiving rack.
- Static load
- The weight a pallet holds while standing still on a flat floor, spread evenly across the deck. It is the highest of the three ratings.
- Dynamic load
- The weight a pallet holds while it is moved by a forklift, pallet jack or conveyor. It is lower than static because motion adds shock.
- Stretch wrap
- Elastic film wound around a loaded pallet to hold the load together.
- Closed loop
- A route where pallets return to the sender after delivery, so the empty trip is a standing cost.
- Nest increment
- The extra height each additional empty pallet adds to a nested stack, measured in inches. A small increment means a short stack.
Tell us the footprint and how many stacks you move.
We work out the empty trailer, then take the request for a load.