A sorted, counted pile loads faster, and a buyer who knows what's on the dock is more likely to send a truck.
Checklist
- Sort by size: 48x40s in their own stacks, other sizes apart.
- Within the 48x40s, keep good pallets apart from broken ones and cores.
- Pull out pooled pallets (painted blue or red, or marked with a pooling company's name) and set them aside for return.
- Stack flat and square, no higher than a forklift can reach safely, with stacks of the same height where you can.
- Keep the stacks off wet ground and out of standing water if you can.
- Leave a clear path from the stacks to where the truck will stand, and note any height or turning limits for a 53-foot trailer.
- Count the stacks and note the grade split so the driver knows what to expect.
- Take a photo of the pile from two sides to send with your request.
Why sorting matters
A pile mixed through with broken pallets and odd sizes has to be sorted by someone. If the buyer does it, they price that labour in. Separating good 48x40s from the rest is the single change most likely to turn a fee into a free pickup.