A full truck of FMCG arrives on 33 pallets, and every one of them has a value. Whether those pallets are exchanged, charged, returned or simply kept is easy to forget when you order — and then the driver asks for empty pallets at your dock, or an invoice for pallets arrives a month later. Agree the pallet terms with the quote and neither happens.
The EPAL Euro pallet is the standard 1200 × 800 mm wooden pallet used across European FMCG logistics. Genuine ones carry the EPAL mark in an oval on the corner blocks, and EPAL pallets are heat-treated with the IPPC mark for ISPM 15. Because they are built to one standard by licensed producers, a used EPAL pallet in good condition is interchangeable with another — which is what makes exchange possible.
| Arrangement | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange at delivery | The driver takes back the same number of empty exchangeable pallets of comparable quality. | You need the empties ready, in acceptable condition, at the dock. |
| Pallet account | Pallets owed are recorded on a pallet receipt and settled later, in pallets or money. | Receipts get lost; balances need regular reconciliation. |
| One-way (non-exchange) | The pallets go with the goods and are not returned; their cost is invoiced or included in the price. | Know whether the pallet cost is in the price or charged on top. |
| Pooled (rental) pallets | Pallets belong to a pooling company and must be returned through its system. | They are not EPAL exchange pallets and must not be swapped or kept. |
Exchange works best on regular full-truck deliveries inside a market where both sides hold stocks of empties. For occasional orders, longer international routes and export outside the EU, one-way pallets are usually simpler: nobody has to bring empties back across a border. On groupage shipments carriers generally do not run pallet exchange, so expect one-way pallets there.
Pallet count also affects freight. Our guide to pallet and truckload maths shows how many Euro pallets fit a trailer and how weight limits interact with them.
Exchange only works if both sides agree what “exchangeable” means. EPAL publishes a quality classification for used pallets, and many trading partners refer to it in their terms. As a rule, pallets with broken boards or blocks, missing marks, heavy soiling or mould are not exchangeable. If you plan to swap, agree the standard in writing and keep stock that meets it.
Whatever the arrangement, write the pallet count and type on the delivery documents. On the CMR consignment note, record the number of pallets received and anything wrong with them, just as you would record damaged goods — see CMR damage claims on wholesale deliveries. If pallets are owed, get a pallet receipt signed by the driver before the truck leaves.
Say in your enquiry how you want pallets handled and how goods will be delivered. We confirm in writing how pallets are handled and charged in your quote, so there are no pallet surprises at your dock or on a later invoice. Payment is by bank transfer in EUR or USD: a 20–50% deposit, with the balance before release.
Related reading: pallet and truckload maths, groupage shipping from Poland, and CMR damage claims.
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