Plastic pallet load securing: friction, anti-slip mats and a worked example
In briefYes, a plastic pallet slides more than a wooden one: on a plywood bed its friction coefficient is 0.2 against 0.45, so it needs more securing. A rubber anti-slip mat raises friction to 0.6 and on its own holds the load sideways, but forwards you still need the headboard or a lashing.
How much it slides: friction 0.2 for plastic, 0.45 for wood
For load securing, what counts is the friction coefficient μ. A plastic pallet on a plywood truck bed has μ 0.2; a sawn timber pallet on the same bed reaches 0.45 [3]. In practice, friction on plastic holds back less than half the force it holds back on wood.
| Pair of materials | μ |
|---|---|
| Plastic pallet on plywood | 0.2 |
| Plastic on grooved aluminium | 0.15 |
| Sawn timber on plywood | 0.45 |
| Sawn timber on grooved aluminium | 0.4 |
| Sawn timber on steel sheet | 0.3 |
| Steel on plywood | 0.45 |
| Rubber mat | 0.6 |
Values taken from EN 12195-1:2010 [3]. They apply to clean surfaces: with frost, ice, snow or oil, friction drops sharply [1].
Other pages on this site give about 0.30 for plastic. That figure comes from the American ANSI MH1 standard and refers to a pallet on forks and roller conveyors, as explained in the guide to automated warehouses. These are different pairs of materials: for the truck, use the table above.
Forces in transit: 0.8 forwards, 0.5 sideways and backwards
The 2014 European guidelines require the securing to withstand 0.8 times the weight of the load forwards, 0.5 times sideways and backwards, and 0.6 times sideways if the load is at risk of tipping [1].
Friction always helps: the force to be restrained with lashings or blocking is the difference between acceleration and friction. With μ 0.2, 0.6 remains forwards and 0.3 sideways. With μ 0.6, nothing remains sideways and 0.2 remains forwards.
The same guidelines show how much friction matters with a 5,000 daN headboard: the load you can block against the headboard alone is 8.4 t with μ 0.20, 14.5 t with μ 0.45 and 25.4 t with μ 0.6 [2].
Worked example
Take a plastic pallet carrying 800 kg of goods on a plywood truck bed. The force to restrain is mass × 9.81 × (acceleration − μ), the same force balance used in the guidelines [2].
| Direction | No anti-slip (μ 0.2) | Wooden pallet (μ 0.45) | With rubber mat (μ 0.6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forwards (0.8) | 800 × 9.81 × 0.6 = 4.7 kN | 800 × 9.81 × 0.35 = 2.7 kN | 800 × 9.81 × 0.2 = 1.6 kN |
| Sideways and backwards (0.5) | 800 × 9.81 × 0.3 = 2.4 kN | 800 × 9.81 × 0.05 = 0.4 kN | no residual force |
Coefficients from [3], accelerations from [1].
The mat cuts the forward force by two thirds and removes the sideways force altogether. The example is simplified: it does not check for tipping and it does not replace a securing plan calculated with the full EN 12195-1.
Pallet on the truck bed: anti-slip mats and strips
The European guidelines describe rubber mats as follows [1]:
- thickness from 2 to 30 mm;
- friction of 0.6 on a clean surface, dry or wet;
- higher values only with a test certificate to EN 12195-1;
- no mats smaller than 10×10 cm, because they roll up.
The mat works on two surfaces: between the truck bed and the mat, and between the mat and the pallet. Both must be clean. On a wet bed that freezes, the 0.6 figure no longer applies [1].
Load on the pallet: stretch film, strapping and deck
The same problem arises between the goods and the pallet. A carton or a reel on the smooth deck of a plastic pallet slides more than it would on wood. To hold it in place you use stretch film and strapping, which tie load and pallet into one unit, or decks with rubber inserts and anti-slip sheets between layers. Raised edges and rubber strips are described in the guide to plastic pallet types.
Reels and rolls: chocks, saddles, rubber
A reel lying with its axis horizontal can also roll. You have two ways to stop it.
The first is a reel pallet, with a saddle or cradle that holds the reel in its profile. The profiles are compared in the guide to reel pallets.
The second is a flat pallet with two chocks per reel, one on each side. On a plastic pallet, toothed chocks, which grip on wood, tend to slip. You need chocks with rubber pads, such as the ROLL KU10-2S, or a mat under the reel, as in the SB01 kit with 8 mm rubber [6][7]. The range is in the ROLL roll chock collection [5]; sizes and positioning are in the guide to roll chocks.
The pallet carrying the reel must then be secured to the truck bed like any other load, using the table and the calculation above.
Roadside checks and responsibility
Article 13 of Directive 2014/47/EU provides that load securing may be inspected during a roadside check [4]. Recital 17 states that packers, loaders, transport undertakings, operators and drivers all contribute to a properly secured load [4]. So whoever prepares the pallet also carries part of the responsibility.
Checklist before departure
- Truck bed and pallet deck clean, with no frost, oil or dirty film [1].
- Rubber mats under every plastic pallet, in pieces of at least 10×10 cm [1].
- Load tied to the pallet with stretch film or strapping, anti-slip sheets between layers.
- Reels in a saddle or held by two rubber-padded chocks per reel.
- Pallets in contact with the headboard or lashed: forwards, with the values in the tables, friction alone is not enough [1][3].
- Securing plan calculated with the μ for your own pair of materials.
If you are buying new pallets and want an anti-slip deck, write it into your purchase specification with the friction value you require.
If you are choosing a pallet from scratch, start with the guide how to choose a plastic pallet.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the load slide more on a plastic pallet?
Because plastic has less friction than wood. The EN 12195-1:2010 tables give 0.2 for a plastic pallet on plywood and 0.15 on grooved aluminium, against 0.45 and 0.4 for sawn timber. With less friction, more force is left to be held by lashings, headboards or anti-slip material.
How much friction do I need so that I don't have to lash the load?
The European guidelines require you to restrain 0.8 times the weight forwards and 0.5 times sideways and backwards. A friction of 0.6, which is what a clean rubber mat gives, is enough sideways and backwards if the load is not at risk of tipping. Forwards, no value in the tables reaches 0.8: you need the headboard or a lashing.
Are anti-slip mats enough?
They greatly reduce the force to be restrained, but on their own they are not enough forwards. The 2014 European guidelines assume 0.6 for a rubber mat on a clean surface, dry or wet, and much less with ice, oil or grease. Mats must be at least 10×10 cm, and values above 0.6 need a test certificate.
How do I secure reels on a plastic pallet during transport?
With a reel pallet that has a saddle or cradle holding the reel in its profile, or with two chocks per reel on a flat pallet. On plastic you need chocks with rubber pads or a mat under the reel, because toothed chocks grip wood but slip on smooth surfaces. The pallet must then be secured to the truck bed like any other load.
Why do other sources give a friction of 0.30 for plastic?
Because they measure a different pair of materials. The figure of about 0.30 comes from presentation material for the American ANSI MH1 standard and refers to a pallet on forks and roller conveyors. The 0.2 in EN 12195-1 refers to a pallet on a plywood truck bed. Always use the coefficient for the pair of materials you actually have.
Sources
- European Commission, Fissazione del carico per il trasporto su strada. Linee guida europee 2014 sulle migliori pratiche (Italian version)
- European Commission, Cargo securing for road transport. 2014 European best practice guidelines (English version, tables and formulas)
- BG BAU, Baustein A 070 Ladungssicherung (07/2021): friction coefficients to DIN EN 12195-1:2010
- Directive 2014/47/EU on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles
- ROLL, roll chocks and wedges collection
- ROLL KU10-2S, chock with rubber pads for plastic pallets (data sheet)
- ROLL SB01, roll chock kit for 800×1200 pallets with rubber mat (data sheet)
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