What is a Skid?
A skid is another term for a pallet used to move material goods. They are most often used in warehouses in conjunction with a vehicle called a forklift, tow motor or "skid mover." Does this Spark an idea?
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Structure
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A skid contains three parallel boards as a basis for its structure. Several other boards are nailed flat across the top of these boards in the perpendicular direction, creating a flat surface on which to lay goods. The three parallel boards act as spacers between the top surface and the ground through which the forklift can enter.
History
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The first skid-like structures were used several centuries ago to stabilize kegs. However, they did not facilitate movement like modern pallets. Moving skids appeared in the late 1800s in factories. However, they were lifted manually with platforms instead of forklifts. In the early 1900s, the modern pallet emerged in response to the high-lift fork truck, which made both moving and stacking possible.
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Variations
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Although wooden pallets are most common, plastic and steel pallets also exist. Pallets come in a few different standard sizes to optimize storage space. A highly common size is 48-by-48 inches, which can accommodate most box sizes and fits well onto trucks and boxcars.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit forklift and pallets image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
