What is a wooden skid?
A wooden skid is a flat wood platform with a top deck and runners (the heavy longitudinal timbers) but no bottom deck. Unlike a pallet, which has a double-deck sandwich construction, a skid is one-sided. The runners act as the base; the top deck carries the load; fork trucks lift from either side under the runners.
The practical difference matters. A pallet is designed for in-trailer stacking, standardized storage racking, and bulk handling where loads sit on and under each other. A skid is designed for one-time or one-way heavy transport where the cargo is a single large piece - a transformer, a generator, a boiler, an industrial pump, a piece of CNC equipment, a shipping container of defense cargo. The runners are heavier than pallet stringers (6-by-6 and up is common), the top deck is thicker, and the overall capacity is 2 to 4 times that of a GMA pallet.
Wooden skids are the industry-standard base for heavy equipment moves, oversized freight, drop-ship machinery, mining equipment, utility transformers, data center cabinets, military vehicles, and anything where the cargo itself is the significant mass and the base is simply the way to move it with a fork truck or a crane.
Wooden skid vs pallet - the practical choice
If a load is lightweight (under 2,500 pounds), palletized stackable product (cases of goods, drums, bags, boxes), and will travel in standard trailer and warehouse flows, use a pallet. If a load is heavy (above 5,000 pounds), single-piece (one large machine, one transformer, one engine block), or oversized, use a skid.
The 2,500 to 5,000 pound range is a judgment call. A GMA pallet is rated to 2,500 pounds dynamic, 5,000 pounds static, which many manufacturers push to 7,500 pounds in practice. Beyond that, pallet failure is a real risk. A properly specified wooden skid absorbs loads of 10,000, 20,000, even 100,000 pounds safely with the right runner cross-section and deck construction.
The second practical factor is handling. A pallet gets lifted from four sides (standard four-way entry). A skid gets lifted from two sides, usually the long sides. For in-trailer loading this is fine - the driver backs in and the fork truck lifts from one end. For warehouse storage, racking, and multi-handle flows, skids are harder to work with. If the cargo moves repeatedly through a distribution flow, a pallet (or a specialized skid with four-way entry) wins. If the cargo moves once from factory to install site, a skid wins.
Standard wooden skid sizes we build
Light-duty skid (equipment under 5,000 lb)
Light-duty skid is 2-by-4 or 2-by-6 runners (actual nominal), 1-by-6 or 2-by-6 top deck, hardwood or softwood construction, typical overall size 48 inches by 48 inches up to 48 inches by 96 inches. Price band $35 to $80 per skid.
Medium-duty skid (equipment 5,000 to 15,000 lb)
Medium-duty skid is 4-by-4 or 4-by-6 runners, 2-by-6 or 2-by-8 top deck, double-deck engineered where load concentrates on a small footprint, typical overall size 60 inches by 60 inches up to 72 inches by 120 inches. Price band $90 to $220 per skid.
Heavy-duty skid (equipment 15,000 to 60,000 lb)
Heavy-duty skid is 6-by-6 or 8-by-8 runners, 3-by-8 or 4-by-8 deck planks, often with cross-bracing or steel strapping, typical overall size 72 inches by 96 inches up to 120 inches by 240 inches. Price band $280 to $750 per skid depending on size.
Project cargo skid (above 60,000 lb)
Project cargo skid is engineered to drawing - 10-by-10, 12-by-12, or steel-reinforced wood runners, laminated or composite deck, custom tie-down points and lifting lugs. Price is quoted per drawing. Typical use is transformer bases, generator bases, wind turbine component bases, pressure vessel bases.
ISPM-15 export skids
All wooden skids crossing international borders must be heat-treated and IPPC-stamped under ISPM-15. We supply ISPM-15 stamped skids in every grade and size, with the IPPC mark branded (not painted) on at least two faces per skid. The APHIS-registered facility and the HT treatment code appear on the stamp. We document the heat-treatment cycle on the delivery paperwork.
Heavy equipment manufacturers shipping overseas rely on wooden skids for a specific reason: the skid is the base for the equipment at the destination install site too. The customer un-crates, pulls the equipment off the skid, and places it. The skid saves a second move. ISPM-15 compliance is a hard requirement for every export skid.
Custom features we add to wooden skids
- Steel strapping across the top deck to carry heavy point loads
- Hardwood runners instead of softwood for high-abuse flows
- Four-way entry notches on the runners for fork trucks approaching from any direction
- Chamfered runner ends for pallet jack compatibility
- Lifting lugs and tie-down points (steel inserts) for crane lifts
- Rub-rails on the sides to protect the cargo during tight-space handling
- Branding and IPPC export stamp per customer spec
- Foam-faced top deck for scratch-sensitive cargo (electronics, polished metal)
- Protective shrink-wrap over the deck for weather-exposed outdoor storage
Each of these adds cost. We quote with and without on request so the buyer can decide what pays off.
Industries we supply wooden skids to
Common specs
| Grade | Load capacity | Typical size | Runner cross-section | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light-duty | Up to 5,000 lb | 48x48 - 48x96 | 2x4, 2x6 | $35 - $80 |
| Medium-duty | 5,000 - 15,000 lb | 60x60 - 72x120 | 4x4, 4x6 | $90 - $220 |
| Heavy-duty | 15,000 - 60,000 lb | 72x96 - 120x240 | 6x6, 8x8 | $280 - $750 |
| Project cargo | 60,000+ lb | Custom | 10x10, 12x12 or engineered | Quote |
| ISPM-15 export | Any grade | Any size | Any | Add $0.50 - $2.00/sqft stamp |
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Frequently asked questions
Can I use a pallet for a 10,000-pound machine?
No. A standard GMA pallet is rated to 2,500 pounds dynamic (in motion on a fork truck) and 5,000 pounds static. Loads above 5,000 pounds should be on a medium-duty wooden skid with 4-by-4 or 4-by-6 runners. Loads above 15,000 pounds should be on a heavy-duty skid with 6-by-6 runners. Pallet failure at heavy load means the deck or stringer breaks mid-lift and the equipment drops - at best a damaged machine, at worst a workplace injury.
Why no bottom deck on a skid?
The bottom deck of a pallet distributes load across the floor and allows four-way fork entry. For heavy point-load cargo (one single piece of equipment), the bottom deck is dead weight - it does not carry the load, which the runners handle directly. Removing the bottom deck saves 20 to 40 pounds of lumber per unit and makes room for larger, heavier runners. The tradeoff is two-way fork entry only, which is fine for one-way heavy shipment.
What is the biggest wooden skid you build?
For published grades, up to 120 inches by 240 inches (10 feet by 20 feet). For project cargo at engineered-drawing we have built up to 240 inches by 480 inches (20 feet by 40 feet) with laminated timber and steel reinforcement. The limit at that size is highway transport width and loading dock geometry, not the skid itself.
Can wooden skids be returnable for a program?
Yes - heavy-duty and project cargo skids are often returnable in closed-loop programs between OEMs and specific customers. The economics work when a single skid moves between the same two sites repeatedly (manufacturing to field service). We quote return-and-reuse programs on request. Light-duty skids are typically one-way.
Do you supply skids with four-way entry?
Yes - we can add four-way entry notches to any skid grade on request. The notch is a cutout in the runners that allows a fork truck to approach from either long side or either short side. Four-way skids cost 15 to 25 percent more than standard two-way because the notch cut reduces runner cross-section at the notch, which the runner must be upsized to compensate for.
What is the lead time on custom skids?
For published grades: 1 to 5 business days from quote approval, same-day in Florida. For engineered-drawing project cargo skids: 5 to 15 business days from drawing receipt depending on size and complexity. For urgent production-line installations: expedited same-day in Florida and 24 to 48 hours regional.
What hardwood species do you build skids from?
For high-abuse and high-load heavy-duty skids we quote hardwood (oak, maple, hickory). For most skid grades we use Southern yellow pine or Douglas fir, which handle the load without the hardwood premium. For export ISPM-15 skids we use whichever species is in current heat-treatment stock. All species meet or exceed load ratings per skid grade.
Can wooden skids be shrink-wrapped for outdoor storage?
Yes - we add protective shrink-wrap or weather-resistant covering to the deck as an option. For long-term outdoor exposure (6 months and up) the cover extends skid life significantly. The cover is removable without damage so the equipment can be un-skidded at the destination.
Do you build skids to meet NMFC 150-series freight classifications?
Yes - we build to NMFC classes where applicable. Heavy equipment shipment NMFC classifications vary by cargo. Confirm your freight class on the quote request and we match skid construction accordingly.
How is a wooden skid different from an ISO shipping-container flatrack?
A flatrack is a steel-based ISO-standard container used for oversized cargo in ocean and intermodal shipping. A wooden skid is a wood base for heavy equipment that can go on a flatrack, inside a container, on a flatbed truck, or on a rail flatcar. Flatracks are leased or owned ISO equipment. Skids are consumable or returnable wood packaging that the cargo rides on.
Updated 2026-10-07