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I i Practical Ways to Cut : COLTS in’ Carqo Handlin of sh HoH Hy \ es a ie Yh ni ae = ry Lut! allot Ee Teerseeenes = ae iy, | ee | | ae a SAE Conducted by H.E.STOCKER 7 a ym un 4 ae ames 7 ! i 5 : ig inne A = * : - = — Ar . A2™ Truck-Pallet Method o Cargo Handling Found Effective in Reducing Cost eargo handling has proved an economical means of reducing costs on the Pacific coast and it has now begun to spread to other ports. Though referred to here as the fork truck pallet method, there is no standard nomenclature among steve- dores and shipping men. Pallets are ealled flats, cargo boards and low skid3 and several other names. A typical fork truck—pallet oper- ation is found in the handling of boxed apples at Seattle. A stevedoring company receives boxed apples by ventilated fruit ex- press cars and by motor trucks. A gasoline fork truck brings stacks of T HE fork truck—pallet method of 28 MARINE REVIEwW—September, By H. E. Stocker pallets to the car door. When a pal- let is loaded with 48 cases of apples, the fork truck lifts the load, backs out of the car and carries the cargo to shipside, where it is hoisted into the ship, using the pallet as a sling. Advantages of this Method If the ship is not in port, the pal- lets are piled two high cn the pier. This system has cut stevedoring costs remarkably. Similar equipment is used by other stevedoring companies operating at Los Angeles harbor and Portland. The fork truck—pallet method is advantageous because, large units cf cargo may be handled quickly and ® Ae Los Angeles—Three- ton fork truck handling two pallet loads of 5 drums each; weight about 5400 pounds. Load spotted un- der ship's sling. Frontman approaching to apply sling hooks ® 1934 eccnomically, from motor truck or freight cars direct into the ships hold, or the same units may be piled two and three high on the dock quickly and economically and without dam- age to the cargo. Essentially the fork truck—pallet. method is an improvement of the lift trueck—skid method of cargo handling. It is as if the skid with an underneath clearance of 6 to 12 inches had shrunk to an underneath clearance of 2% to 4 inches. This has brought a reduction in cost of equipment. As compared with a cost of $4 to $6 for the skid, pal- lets cost about $2.50 at Seattle. The pallet weighs less and is less com- bersome to handle and store when empty. When loaded pallets are stored, the pallet takes the place of dunnage saving both labor and ma- terial. One stevedore uses pallets 48 inches x 70 inches. This gives a 24 inch load center on the forks which enter from the side of the pallet. The pallets are two sided so that no matter how it is placed, it is always right side up and the need of dun- nage is eliminated to protect the cargo when piling loaded pallets two and three high, The top and bottom boards are 1 x 6 inches lumber running lengthwise. These boards are separated by three Scantlings, one on each side and one in the center. The space between the top and bottom boards for the inser-