Need a pallet collected and delivered today?
A supplier has your parts ready, but the next scheduled delivery is too late. Or a pallet is sitting at a depot while your customer waits for it. In either case, a dedicated collection may help you get the goods moving today.
With ACS same day pallet delivery, your goods travel directly on a dedicated vehicle between the agreed stops, without shared pallet-network hub transfers. Before booking, you’ll need to confirm three things: what’s on the pallet, how it will be loaded and when the recipient can accept it.
Measure the loaded pallet and confirm its weight
“One standard pallet” isn’t enough to choose a vehicle. The goods might be wider than the pallet, too tall for a van’s door or heavier than the vehicle can carry.
For each pallet, provide:
- Its loaded length, width and height, including the pallet, packaging and any overhang.
- Its gross weight, including the pallet itself.
- A description of the goods and how they are packed.
- Any restrictions, such as keeping the load upright or not placing anything on top.
If you’re arranging collection from a supplier, ask their warehouse for the finished measurements and weight. An estimate made before packing can be quite different from the load the driver finds on arrival.
For several pallets, give the details of each one as well as the total weight. Pallet spaces and payload are separate limits: a vehicle can have room on the floor and still be unable to carry the weight. Our vehicle size guide is a useful starting point; contact us if the fit is close or the load is unusual.
Check how the pallet will come off the vehicle
It’s easy to focus on collection when your warehouse has a forklift ready. The delivery point needs just as much attention. Ask the receiver what equipment they have and whether someone will be available to use it when the vehicle arrives.
Loading and unloading are the sender’s and receiver’s responsibility unless agreed otherwise. Tell ACS if either site needs a tail lift or assistance before choosing a vehicle.
For suitable tail-lift vehicles, our limits are 400 kg per pallet or handling unit on a Luton van and 1,000 kg on a suitable HGV. Vehicle payload, pallet dimensions and site conditions also matter, and availability must be confirmed. A tail-lift limit is not the same as the vehicle’s total carrying capacity.
Describe the space and ground where unloading will take place. Gravel, steps, slopes or a narrow approach can change what’s practical. Don’t assume a pallet can be moved from the roadside to an indoor storage area without discussing it first.
Give the actual delivery deadline
“Today” might mean before goods-in closes at 16:00, before an engineer leaves at 18:00 or during a booked delivery slot. Tell us which applies, along with the time the pallet will be packed and ready to load.
For example, if a supplier can release the goods from 11:00 but the customer’s forklift operator finishes at 15:30, both times matter. Giving only the customer’s general closing time could leave the driver arriving after unloading is no longer possible.
Include the full addresses, site contacts, booking references and any access restrictions. If there is a particular gate or loading bay, put it in the instructions. Let the receiver know the delivery is being arranged so they can prepare.
Collecting a pallet from a network depot
If freight is already at a depot, confirm that it can be released to a third-party driver before arranging a dedicated collection. Ask the depot for its collection reference, opening hours, goods-ready time and any authorisation it needs from you or the original sender.
Pass those details to ACS with the pallet dimensions and weight. A tracking status saying the freight is at the depot doesn’t necessarily mean it is ready to hand over. The depot may still need time to locate it or complete its release process.
When dedicated delivery is worth considering
A direct vehicle can make sense when the pallet is needed to keep work moving: replacement components for a repair, materials for an installation or stock needed for a customer order. It can also suit freight you want to avoid sending through several handling points.
For routine pallets with a flexible delivery date, a shared network may be a better fit for the budget. Dedicated transport is priced around your vehicle and journey, so the reason to choose it is the delivery requirement.
Get the right quote for your load
For a straightforward, non-hazardous pallet load that fits a suitable van, use our online courier quote. If the load needs a lorry, send the details through our HGV quote form for a manual quotation.
Call 01234 385970 before booking if you need collection within 90 minutes, have a fixed delivery deadline or need a tail lift. For dangerous goods, use the separate ADR quote process so the shipment can be assessed before acceptance.
Have the postcodes, ready time, deadline, pallet measurements, weight and loading details to hand. That gives us what we need to discuss a suitable vehicle and confirm whether the journey can be arranged.