Definition
A thin sheet of solid fiberboard, corrugated board, or plastic used as a pallet substitute. Slip sheets are placed under a unit load and handled by forklifts equipped with special push-pull attachments that grip the protruding edge of the sheet. Slip sheets are much thinner, lighter, and less expensive than pallets, and they save significant space in shipping containers. However, they require specialized handling equipment and are not compatible with standard pallet jacks or racking.
Related Terms
Unit Load
A quantity of goods assembled and secured on a pallet to form a single handling unit for storage and transportation. The unit load concept is fundamental to modern logistics — by consolidating individual items into pallet-sized units, material handling efficiency is dramatically improved. A well-built unit load is stable, within weight limits for the pallet and handling equipment, and configured to maximize trailer or container space utilization.
Pallet
A flat transport structure, typically made of wood, that supports goods in a stable fashion while being lifted by a forklift, pallet jack, or other jacking device. Pallets are the foundation of modern material handling and logistics, enabling efficient storage, stacking, and transportation of goods. The most common pallet size in North America is the 48x40 inch GMA pallet.
Corrugated Pallet
A pallet constructed primarily from heavy-duty corrugated fiberboard rather than wood or plastic. Corrugated pallets are lightweight, recyclable, and exempt from ISPM-15 phytosanitary requirements since they are not solid wood. They are suitable for lighter loads and one-way shipping applications, especially in export markets where avoiding wood treatment costs is advantageous. However, they have lower load capacity and moisture resistance than wood pallets.
Kraft Paper
A strong, coarse paper made from wood pulp, commonly used as a protective layer between products and pallets or between layers of palletized goods. Kraft paper prevents product surfaces from being scratched, stained, or contaminated by direct contact with the pallet deck. It is also used as slip sheets and as a dunnage material. Kraft paper is recyclable and provides an inexpensive protective barrier in pallet shipping applications.
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Our glossary contains 165+ terms covering everything from pallet construction to compliance regulations and industry organizations.