A pallet is a flat transport vehicle that supports loads while being lifted by a forklift. Containers are often used during the loading of products and pallets are the best way to load containers. Most pallet types can carry more than one thousand kg. Therefore it is very convenient to transport large quantities of goods or cargo to be shipped.

Containers with rectangular and smooth, flat surfaces can be loaded quickly using pallets, forklifts of different sizes or other loading means. Therefore, the use of pallets is both economical and widespread. On flat ground the pallets can be moved with little force and are highly functional in both transport and storage.

Depending on the pallet type and size, the number of pallets that can be loaded into 20 fit or 40 fit containers is different. International container transport focuses on the use of two pallet types. These are the EU palette and the EUR2 palette. In the ISO 6780 standard published by the International Standards Organization (ISO), six pallet standards based on the basis of pallets have been determined.

Here are a few standards that are based on pallet and container testing by competent authorities:

• TS ISO 6780 Flat pallets for intercontinental material handling - Basic dimensions and tolerances

• TS EN 13698-1 Pallet production features - Part1: Construction characteristics of simple wooden pallets of 800mmx1200mm

• TS EN 13698-2 ... Section 2: 1000 mm x 1200 mm construction features for flat wooden pallets

• TS EN 13626 Packaging - Box pallets - General rules and test methods

• TS ISO 668 Series 1 freight containers - Classification, dimensions and gross masses

• TS ISO 1496-1 Series 1 Cargo containers - Identification and testing - 1. Section: General cargo containers for general purposes

• TS ISO 1496-2 ... Section 2: Thermal containers