Talk Like a Pirate for a Day and Like a Pallet Pro for a Lifetime

In just six days, you can bring out your inner pirate for “International Talk Like a Pirate Day!” This fun-filled day is an excuse to let out those obscure words and phrases (without receiving too many strange looks) such as ‘Ahoy Matey,’ ‘Blimey,’ ‘Shiver Me Timbers,’ and of course everyone’s favorite, ‘Arrr.’

How did this wacky holiday come about? John Baur and Mark Summers created the concept 22 years ago while playing racquetball. During the game they began to talk to each other using pirate terminology. After the match was finished, they decided there was a need to set aside one day each year for practicing pirate prose. Mark selected September 19^th, the same day as his wife’s birthday, because it would be an easy date to remember.

So, go ahead—speak like a pirate all day on September 19^th!  But, if you want to talk like a pallet pro the rest of the year, we’ve got a great resource for you. The Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) has a compiled a complete listing of pallet definitions. It is available for free download on the organization’s Web site. Below is an excerpt from that publication:

block – rectangular, square, multisided, or cylindrical deck spacer, often identified by its location within the pallet as corner block, end block, edge block, inner block, or center or middle block.
block size – pallet member dimension, specified by width followed by height and length.
deckboard – element or component of pallet top and bottom, perpendicular to stringers or stringerboards.
deckboard size – specified by thickness followed by width and length.
delamination – a visible separation in the plane of a panel or panel component. This may occur in the panel manufacturing process, or in use due to rough handling. The latter may be caused by impacting panel edges with a tine tip, and may or may not result in material being removed from the panel component.
notch area – a region around stringer notches with special defect limitations.
pallet length – pallet dimension between the extreme pallet ends, parallel to the stringers or top stringerboards. For panel-deck block pallets without stringerboards, it is the top deck pallet dimension parallel to the face grain for plywood (strong panel axis).

Armed with the right terminology, you can better discuss your pallet needs and determine which one is right for your unique logistics operations. And, remember, the pros at Rose Pallet ‘arrrrrr’ always available to provide a free consultation.