If you’ve spent any time on a forklift in a crowded warehouse, you know the frustration of having to back out, circle around, and realign just because a pallet is facing the wrong way. It’s a massive time kill. That’s usually when people start looking into 4 way pallets.
Most guys call these the middle ground between a basic “disposable” pallet and the high-end block pallets. But before you swap your whole inventory over, you need to know what you’re trading off.
What Are 4-Way Stringer Pallets?
A standard pallet is basically two ways you go in the front or the back. A 4-way stringer pallet looks almost identical, but it’s got those notches cut out of the side beams.
That little bit of missing wood is what allows a pallet jack or a forklift to slide in from any side. In a tight Lower Mainland loading dock where space is at a premium, that 360-degree access is a lifesaver, especially for businesses using wooden pallets in British Columbia. But and this is a big but, it comes with a catch.
The Strength Trade-Off of 4-Way Pallets
I’ll be blunt: when you cut a notch into a support beam, you’re making it weaker. It’s just physics.
- The Snapping Point: If you’re hauling heavy machinery or dense stacks of tile, those notches are the first place the wood is going to splinter. Compared to 2-way pallets, 4-way pallets are more accessible but slightly less strong. If you overload a 4 way, it doesn’t just sag; it cracks right at the notch.
- The Repair Headache: You can’t really “fix” a notched stringer once it goes. You’re usually looking at a total teardown or just tossing the pallet. You’re paying for the extra machining time to get those notches cut. If your warehouse is wide open and your drivers have plenty of room to get around, you’re paying for a “feature” you don’t even need. For specialized warehouse setups, custom pallets can often be a more efficient long-term solution.
So, why do people swear by them?
Even with the strength trade off, we can barely keep these in stock.
Why? Because speed beats everything.
If your team is moving 200 loads a day, and a 4-way entry saves them 30 seconds of repositioning per pallet… well, do the math. That’s hours of labour saved every week. Plus, they’re a dream for loading containers. You can “pinwheel” them (rotate them) to fit more into a trailer because you aren’t restricted by which way the stringers are facing.
Not sure if your loads are too heavy for a notched beam? Shoot us a message or give the office a call. We’re out in the Lower Mainland every day and can help you spec out a pallet that won’t snap on the first lift.
