In freight transport, pallet stability is crucial to ensure product safety and integrity.
Depending on the chosen mode—road, rail, or maritime—pallets are subjected to different forces that affect their secure positioning.
Road transport involves acceleration, braking, and vibrations, while rail transport must manage traction and infrastructure irregularities.
Maritime transport is characterized by oscillating movements and unpredictable weather conditions, making securing loads more complex.
Each mode also presents specific constraints related to cost, capacity, and environmental impact. Therefore, it’s essential to adopt securing techniques tailored to each situation to ensure stable and safe handling.
Road Transport Constraints: Dynamic Forces and Vibrations
Road transport is subject to a wide variety of dynamic forces that affect pallet stability.
Sudden accelerations and abrupt braking generate significant inertial forces—up to 0.8 g forward and 0.5 g backward—that can cause loads to shift if not properly secured.
In addition, road irregularities—potholes, uneven surfaces, and speed bumps—cause vibrations that can gradually destabilize pallets.
Sharp turns and quick maneuvers produce lateral forces (0.5 g) that push pallets against truck walls or even cause them to tip.
Frequent changes in speed and direction continuously alter the inertia of loads, increasing the risk of sliding.
Vertical forces downward can reach 1 g, while upward forces can go up to 0.5 g.
To address these complex challenges, using an anti-slip mat placed under pallets—alongside standard strapping or blocking methods—improves grip with the truck floor and effectively reduces risks, ensuring optimal securing of a wide range of goods.
Rail Transport: Vibrations and Infrastructure-Related Forces
Rail transport, while offering smoother movement, also presents its own constraints. Powerful traction and braking forces affect pallet stability during acceleration (1 g backward) and deceleration (1 g forward).
Unlike road transport, vibrations are generally less intense, but still present—especially at rail joints, switches, and during track changes.
Railway curves generate lateral forces (0.5 g) pushing pallets sideways. Additionally, coupling impacts between wagons cause sudden jolts. Vertical accelerations range from 0.7 to 1 g downward and up to 0.5 g upward.
While often less abrupt than in road transport, these phenomena still require reliable securing systems to prevent pallet shifting. Applying an anti-slip mat under the load increases friction with the wagon floor, thereby reducing these risks.
Maritime Transport Challenges: Oscillating Movements and Unpredictable Conditions
Maritime transport is often the most demanding in terms of pallet stability. Ships undergo multiple and complex motions: pitching (vertical fore-aft movement), rolling (lateral movement), and sometimes yawing (rotation around the vertical axis). These continuous oscillations expose pallets to unpredictable and shifting forces.
Waves and wind exert lateral forces (0.8 g) and longitudinal forces (0.4 g at the front and back), while vessel movements alter load inertia.
Vertical accelerations range from 0.2 to 1 g downward. These conditions can cause slipping, tipping, or even falling of goods—especially for heavy or irregular pallets.
Engine and mechanical system vibrations also occur, though generally less problematic than in road or rail transport.
In this context, a high-friction anti-slip securing mat plays a vital role in keeping pallets firmly in place.
A Versatile Solution for Various Constraints: STABUMAX®
Whether dealing with the dynamic forces of road transport, the shocks and vibrations of rail, or the oscillating movements at sea, pallet stability remains a universal challenge.
To meet this complexity, the use of a high-friction anti-slip securing mat—such as STABUMAX®, with a coefficient of friction of 0.6 (in accordance with EN12195-1 / VDI 2700 standards)—offers an effective solution.
By increasing adhesion between the pallet and the vehicle or container floor, the mat significantly reduces the risk of slipping. Contact our experts for more information.
Its compatibility with all types of pallets—wood, plastic, metal—and specific loads (machinery, drums, coils, profiles) makes it an essential tool for securing cargo, regardless of the mode of transport.
Durable and easy to use, it integrates seamlessly into existing logistics protocols while significantly improving transport safety.
Conclusion: Toward Safe and Reliable Transport Through Adapted Technology
Pallet stability is subject to very different physical constraints depending on the transport mode. Road transport involves managing vibrations, accelerations, and lateral forces; rail transport contends with infrastructure-related vibrations and traction forces; maritime transport exposes pallets to complex oscillating movements and unpredictable environmental conditions.
In the face of these challenges, using a high-performance anti-slip securing mat like STABUMAX® is a key solution. By increasing dynamic friction between the load and its support, this technology ensures stable and secure handling, reducing the risk of accidents and damage to goods.
It ultimately helps optimize transport reliability and safety—regardless of the chosen mode.