What Stretch Wrap Does for a Pallet

Stretch wrap is a plastic film pulled tight around a pallet load so the cartons and the pallet move as one unit. It holds layers together, keeps cartons from sliding and adds some protection from dust and moisture.

Wrap does not make a weak build strong. Still, it keeps a good build intact through handling and transit.

How Wrap Holds a Load

The film stretches as it goes on, then tries to pull back. That pull squeezes the cartons together. So the tension, not just the number of layers, decides how firmly the load holds.

Tying the wrap to the pallet itself matters most. If the film covers only the cartons, the whole stack can slide off the pallet as a block.

Stretch Wrap Technique

• Start at the base and wrap the pallet deck
• Overlap each pass as you move up
• Add extra passes at the top and bottom
• Keep tension steady all the way around
• Finish by tucking or sealing the tail

Corner boards under the wrap can add strength for tall or heavy loads. Top sheets help keep the top layer in place.

Common Stretch Wrap Mistakes

Too little tension leaves the load loose. Too much can crush cartons or tear the film. Skipping the pallet deck lets the stack slide. Wrapping only the middle leaves the top and bottom exposed.

Because these mistakes often show up only after transit, they are easy to miss at the dock.

Wrap and Transit Rules

Wrap helps hold freight together inside the trailer, but it does not replace securement. Federal cargo securement rules require motor carriers to protect against shifting and falling cargo. Straps, load bars and blocking do that job. Wrap keeps each pallet together; securement keeps the pallets in place.

Manual Versus Machine Wrapping

Hand wrapping suits low volume. Machines apply even tension and use film more consistently at higher volume. Either way, train staff to check the result.

Checking Wrapped Loads

Push gently on a wrapped load. It should move as one unit. Then look for gaps at the base and loose film at the top.

For example, a hypothetical snack shipper seeing cartons slide off pallets might find that its crew skipped the base wrap. Fixing that one step could stop the problem. The guide on freight palletizing covers the full build, and the article on pallet rebuilding covers what happens when a load fails.