What's the Difference Between a Gaylord Container and a Pallet Box?

If you’ve spent much time in a logistics field, you’ve probably heard the terms “Gaylord container" and “pallet box.” These terms are interchangeable: Both phrases refer to the same large, corrugated containers used for shipping and storage.

The term Gaylord container comes from the Gaylord Container Company, the St. Louis-based business that introduced the innovative cardboard boxes to shipping companies worldwide. Eventually, “Gaylord” became shorthand for any large, durable cardboard box used in logistics.

Outside of the United States, the term “pallet box" is more common than “Gaylord.” Other terms for single-use cardboard shipping containers include:

• Tote boxes.
• Skid boxes.
• Bulk bins or bulk boxes.
• Bin boxes.
• Octobins (for eight-sided containers).

Whatever you call them, gaylord containers have played a crucial role in logistics for decades. Below, we’ll explain a few common use cases and provide tips for handling pallet boxes safely. To learn more about the containers' history, read: Gaylord Boxes: Features, Handling, and History

How Gaylord Containers (and Pallet Boxes) Are Used

Gaylord containers can be made in a variety of designs with various materials to meet the needs of different applications.

For example, octobins have higher corner strength than four-corner (rectangular) Gaylords. Adding additional walls or  layers of corrugation can make a pallet box more resilient and less compressible. Cardboard Gaylords can handle up to 5,000 pounds of product (again, depending on the number of walls, layers of corrugation, and other factors).

The most common uses for Gaylords include:

• Transporting raw goods.
• Transporting finished products.
• Long-term storage.

Gaylords can be designed for specific applications, but by nature, they’re reusable — and recyclable, which makes them an eco-friendly alternative to plastic crates and totes.

Material Handling Equipment for Gaylord Containers

As we’ve discussed in other articles, Gaylord boxes require dedicated material handling equipment (MHE).The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends limiting single-person lifts to 50 pounds or less — and Gaylords, by design, weigh much more when fully loaded.

Proper MHE helps to protect products, materials, and workers. And while forklifts are often the go-to choice, specialized MHE can provide better efficiency and throughput.

Solus Group carries Mobile Gaylord Dumpers (MGD), a full-service solution for handling pallet pins. With load capacities of up to 4,000 pounds, MGDs feature:

• Adjustable restraints that allow for handling all types of Gaylord containers, including type D and E containers.
• Closed hydraulic circuits for dependable lifting with limited maintenance.
• Powder coating and braided-wire hydraulic lines for long-term durability.
• Simple push-button controls.
• Excellent mobility with dual floor brakes to hold the unit in place during operation.

Mobile Gaylord Dumpers can be custom-built to any specifications. To learn more, call the material handling experts at Solus Group by dialing 314-696-0200 today.