Top deckboards carry the load; bottom deckboards spread it on the floor or conveyor. The end boards on each deck, called lead boards, take the most impact from forks.
A purchase spec states top and bottom board counts, thickness and maximum gap between top boards, because gaps decide whether small cartons or drum rims can drop through.
See also
- Stringer
- One of the long boards (usually three) that a stringer pallet's deckboards are nailed to.
- Block pallet
- A pallet whose deck rests on blocks rather than on continuous stringers.
- Combo pallet
- A pallet built from a mix of new and recycled components.