The practical goods handling trade: the euro-pallet system (EUR/EPAL) and quality requirements, pallet exchange and pallet accounting, unit marking, stowage plan and loading/unloading sequence, plus terminal and ramp work. Classic AMU content in distribution.
Introduction
Much of the goods driver's day is not the driving itself, but the handling: loading, stowing, securing, and unloading goods efficiently and safely. The goods usually come on pallets, are handled in terminals, and must be stowed so the weight distributes correctly and it can be unloaded in the right order. Good cargo handling saves time, prevents damage, and makes load securing easier.
Euro pallet (EUR/EPAL)
The Euro pallet is the standard pallet in European distribution. It has fixed dimensions — 1200 × 800 mm — and is manufactured according to a common standard so pallets can be used across companies and countries and fit in shelves, lorries and trucks. The EUR/EPAL pallet is a swap pallet: it is part of a pool system where pallets are exchanged rather than following a single item. Quality is crucial because a defective pallet can fail under lifting.
- 01Standard size: 1200 × 800 mm (quarter pallet and half pallet exist as smaller variants).
- 02Marking: a genuine euro pallet is branded on the blocks (e.g. "EUR" and/or "EPAL" plus licence/quality mark).
- 03Quality requirements: the standard establishes acceptable wear, damage and repair — a pallet with broken boards or missing blocks is rejected and must not be used for heavy goods.
- 04Other standard sizes exist (e.g. industrial pallets 1200 × 1000 mm); check which pool and size your customer uses.
Marking and goods information
Cargo (parcel) is marked with information the driver must be able to read and respect: recipient, number of parcels, weight and handling symbols. Handling marks tell how the parcel must be treated — and they must be followed, both for the goods' sake and for stowage.
- 01'This side up' / umbrella (protect from moisture) / glass (fragile) and similar ISO handling symbols.
- 02Max. stacking height/stacking prohibition — some items must not bear weight on top.
- 03Weight and centre of gravity marking on heavy parcels — important for both lifting and load distribution.
- 04With hazardous goods: danger labels and UN numbers (see ADR article).
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