Run a one-week pallet audit
Count every pallet that leaves for one week: type (pooled, whitewood, plastic), condition (reusable, repairable, scrap), and where it went. Note dumpster pulls and invoices. A week's tally multiplied by 52 gives the yearly inputs for the Pallet Fate Report and a baseline for any program.
Tally sheet columns
- Date and source (supplier, store, client).
- Type: CHEP, PECO, iGPS, other pooled, whitewood, plastic.
- Condition: reusable, repairable, scrap.
- Where it went: returned, reused in-house, picked up, dumpster.
Steps
- Brief the dock team and post the sheet at the pallet area.
- Tally every pallet for seven days, including weekends.
- Weigh a sample of 20 to 30 pallets by type.
- Collect a month of haul invoices for cost.
- Enter weekly counts in the Pallet Fate Report with 'per week' selected.
Reading the results
A high pooled share means returns are your quickest win. A high scrap share means a recycler that grinds is part of the answer. A large dumpster share means the haul bill is where the savings are; see stop paying to dumpster pallets.