iGPS pallets are plastic pool pallets, an alternative to wood block pallet pools.
Detailed Definition
An iGPS pallet is a plastic 48 x 40 inch pallet rented through the iGPS pooling program, used mainly in US grocery and consumer goods supply chains. As in other pools, iGPS owns the pallets and users pay to use them rather than buying them. Plastic pool pallets are often chosen for consistent dimensions and weight, washability and the absence of nails, though users should weigh these against cost and fire protection requirements. See pool pallet and plastic pallet.
How an iGPS pool pallet moves
A shipper orders pallets from the pool, loads product and ships to a retailer or distributor that participates in the program. The receiver unloads and holds the empty pallets for return to the pool, which handles collection, inspection and reissue. The shipper typically pays fees tied to issue and movement, and the program's terms define who is responsible for lost pallets. Pool pallets should not be sold, kept or used outside the program's rules, because the pool retains ownership. Pallets are interchangeable, so a shipper does not get back the same pallets it sent; the pool balances inventory across its network.
What to check before joining a plastic pallet pool
- Whether your key customers' distribution centers accept and return iGPS pallets.
- The fee structure, including issue, transfer and loss charges, from the current contract.
- Racking and conveyor compatibility, since plastic deflects differently from wood under load.
- Fire protection requirements for storing plastic pallets, which a fire protection engineer or the local authority can confirm.
- Whether export use is allowed, and how pallets would be recovered.
Compare the option with wood block pools such as CHEP and PECO, and with buying white-wood pallets outright.
Authoritative Sources
- Consumer Brands Association (formerly GMA) (CBA): the trade association whose 48x40 inch pallet standard (the "GMA pallet") became the dominant US pallet specification.
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an iGPS pallet the same size as a GMA pallet?
iGPS pallets use the 48 x 40 inch footprint common in US grocery and consumer goods, so they fit the rack positions and trailer patterns planned for 48 x 40 loads. Construction is different: they are molded plastic rather than wood, so weight, deck stiffness and fork entry details differ. Check the pool's current product specification for exact dimensions, weight and rated loads before designing racking or automation around them.
Do plastic pool pallets need ISPM 15 treatment for export?
No. ISPM 15 covers wood packaging material made of raw wood, so a solid plastic pallet is outside its scope and does not carry the IPPC mark. Pool pallets, however, are generally meant to circulate within the pool's own network, and an export shipment moves outside it. Confirm with the pool whether export use is allowed and how the pallets would be returned before shipping overseas on them.