Grade C pallets
A Grade C pallet is a used pallet in poor appearance, usually with several repairs and deck boards that may not be fully intact. It is also called grade 3, and it suits one-way loads or stock headed for repair.
What it looks like
Faded, stained or grey boards, patches on patches, and perhaps a loose or split deck board. It is still a working pallet, but you would not want a customer to see it unwrapped. There is no sharp line between a tired Grade B and a Grade C; the call is made by eye.
- Also called
- Grade 3.
- Form condition
- grade-c.
- Brand mark
- A C burned into a square.
When it is the right call
One-way shipping where the pallet is not returned, internal moves within a plant, bracing and dunnage, and as feedstock for a recycler. Piles from yards on the I-40 west leg and from back lots often grade this way after a wet season outdoors. If you are clearing a pile of mostly Grade C, a pickup is usually the right request.
What to watch
Loose boards are a safety problem for forklifts and for people. Mould is a hygiene problem; wood below 20% moisture content will not support it, but a Grade C stack that stood on soil may be above that. Do not send Grade C into food-adjacent freight. If a pile reads between B and C, say so and send a photo; the next step is cores if repair is not worth it.
What Grade C is used for
Grade C pallets carry light loads for short trips, ship goods that tolerate cosmetic damage and serve as one-way pallets. Their value is in being cheap and available. Do not offer Grade C as Grade B; the mismatch will show on arrival.
Who buys Grade C and why
Cheaper pallets serve one-way shipments where the receiver keeps or discards the pallet, light goods that do not stress boards, and storage uses where the pallet never moves far. A buyer who knows the limits of Grade C can save money safely. A buyer who expects Grade B performance will be disappointed.
Typical Grade C features include mismatched boards, several repairs, some chips on corners and a non-uniform look. They remain structurally able to carry modest loads for a trip or two. Seller and buyer should agree on the loads in advance.
If you are selling Grade C, explain how many are in better shape than the rest. A stack often hides a few strong pallets that can be pulled out and sold at a higher grade.
Keep them stacked low, off the ground and under cover, since they have little margin before they become cores.