Timber Dunnage

Dunnage timber refers to wood materials like boards, planks, blocks, and beams cut from various lumber types and used to stabilise, secure, and protect cargo during transportation and storage.

Dunnage packing timber is one of the most commonly used and versatile forms of dunnage because it’s good at distributing weight, absorbing shocks, filling voids, and preventing load shifting when braced around or against cargo. This cushions freight and maintains stability even during rough handling and long journeys. With damage minimised, cargo arrives safely.

Its strength (relative to its low weight) allows it to handle heavy stacking loads easily without excessive buckling or deformation. Timber boards maintain their rigid shape when bracing cargo tightly, rather than compressing or bending. The cellular structure of wood allows it to absorb vibrations and impact well, cushioning any blows to cargo during transit.

Timber also withstands exposure, moisture and rough handling. Its innate durability allows repeated use, trip after trip, when maintained properly. The texture and grain provide friction that prevents slippage or sliding of dunnaged items, so they stay locked in place. Timber is affordable, workable and can be recycled. This gives it outstanding economic and sustainability advantages.

Softwoods like pine, fir, cedar and spruce offer incredible strength for bracing and blocking. Their only downside is potential moisture absorption.

Hardwoods like oak, maple and birch have outstanding rigidity and durability. They resist moisture much better than softwoods.

Engineered woods like plywood provide uniform performance but may delaminate with heavy moisture exposure.

Previously used timber boards refurbished into dunnage can also be suitable for reuse thanks to their seasoned durability.

The ideal timber depends on many factors beyond species, including availability, cost, stability, moisture levels, and required lifetime.

Spreading concentrated weights across the entire floor prevents crushed containers or trailers. Filling gaps and voids this way eliminates dangerous load shifting during transit, which could cause tipping and damage.

Cushioning cargo from shocks and vibration prevents items from directly striking each other or the container surfaces. Maintaining clearance spaces also prevents crushing from other freight, and bracing cylindrical items like drums or pipes stops uncontrolled rolling.

Timber friction helps resist the sliding of stacked items, and structural timber reinforcements can prevent load collapse if cargo starts to compress or tip. With skilled dunnage design using suitable timber, loads can be protected across even the wildest routes.

There is an incredible variety of timber dunnage solutions to stabilise specific loads:

Flat blocking beneath the cargo spreads its weight evenly across the floor. X- or K-style cross bracing between layers locks stacked items in place. Solid timber sheets fitted into spaces prevent void shifting, and lumber “shelves” can separate pipes, drums, etc.

Triangular edge protectors will prevent corner damage. Upright posts maintain clearance between items, and chocks or wedges can immobilise rolling stock in rail cars.

With so many possible configurations, timber provides custom solutions for any load.

Our locations can produce up to 1,000 pallets each day. Reach out to our office to discover what the lead time is for our pallets depending on how many you need. We strive to deliver our customers’ orders as quickly as possible.