LOGISTICS
That means either refurbishing used wooden pallets or procuring ones that are made from recycled materials . ‘ Lack of supply has caused increased cost in every sector from cores and nails to labour and new lumber ’, explains Ronnie Barrett , Regional Manager of Pallet Systems and Recycling . ‘ We ’ re seeing customers pull away from the rollercoaster ride of new lumber prices by switching to recycled pallets ’.
But more fundamental than what materials we use is how we communicate these new systems to customers . Increased shipping and freight prices blindsided many . As a result , pallet companies are starting to make a greater effort to reach out . ‘ Now more than ever , we have to educate our customers about what ’ s happening in the market ’, says Wes B . Bonine , President at Popp Brothers Lumber . ‘ With improved transparency , they can make more informed decisions ’.
Adds Rick LeBlanc : ‘ You can look at the 2021 pallet crunch as an opportunity ’. We now need agile systems based on ever-changing supply and demand . As a result , lumber and logistics companies have resorted to monthly pricing . Pallet procurement teams have started to seek out plastic and recycled options . And pallets , once an everyday fixture of our supply chains , are now at the forefront of the conversation .
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