48x40 pallets in Jacksonville
The 48 x 40 inch pallet (1,219 x 1,016 mm) is the GMA standard and the most common wood pallet in North America. Most Jacksonville grocery, frozen-food and truck freight moves on it.
Specs in a table
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Length by width | 48 x 40 in, 1,219 x 1,016 mm |
| Height | 5.5 to 6 in (140 to 150 mm) |
| Weight, standard wood | 33 to 49 lb; reinforced 55 to 66 lb |
| Static load | 2,500 to 4,600 lb |
| Dynamic load | 2,000 to 2,800 lb |
| Usable surface | about 1.23 m² (13.3 sq ft) |
| Entry | Four-way on most stringer builds |
Container fit
| Container | On the floor | Double stacked |
|---|---|---|
| 20 ft | 9 | 18 |
| 40 ft | 20 | 40 |
| 40 ft high cube | 20 | 40 |
Counts come from the container planner: maximum inside dimensions, no overhang. Nine 16 x 12 inch boxes (400 x 300 mm) fit on a layer of a conventional GMA pallet, which is why the size suits carton freight.
Jacksonville loads on a 48 x 40
- Westside grocery and frozen-food docks on and around West Beaver Street.
- Fulfillment and parcel buildings at Cecil Commerce Center and Airport 295.
- Containers out of Blount Island and Dames Point, when heat treated.
- Truck freight to Orlando, Atlanta and Savannah.
Which lane it fits depends on grade and treatment: Grade A for cold docks, Grade B for truck freight, and HT for export. Used 48x40s are the largest used category.
What a 48x40 looks like from the fork
A four-way 48x40 lets forks in from all four faces; a two-way one takes them from two. A driver with a pallet jack at a store dock needs to know which faces are open, and a loader in a container needs the freedom to turn pallets. Specifying the entry in the request avoids a stack that the dock cannot pick.
Where 48x40 is not the answer
- Auto-parts lines that run 48x45.
- Beverage lines on 42x42.
- Chemical drums on 48x48.
- Euro-based imports that arrive on 800x1200.
Ask whether the dock racks, conveyors or jigs fix the footprint; then pick the size, not the grade.
Weights in practice
A pallet that weighs 37 lb typical, and carries a dynamic load of 2,000 to 2,800 lb, leaves room for most carton freight. Loaded with a full grocery layer pattern of nine 16 x 12 inch cartons per layer, a few layers stay well inside the rating. Heavier freight, such as canned goods or bagged cement, approaches it, and then plug quality and stringer condition matter more than appearance.
Questions
Is 48x40 the same as GMA?
Yes. GMA pallet is the usual trade name for the 48 x 40.
How many fit on a trailer?
Depends on the trailer and stacking height; use the planner for containers.
Sources, reviewed 12 November 2026: GMA pallet (Mecalux); Pallet (Wikipedia); Average pallet size (iGPS).