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Florida Pallet Supply • Updated 2026-07-28
Fork entry - the number of sides a forklift or pallet jack can access a pallet from - is one of the most practical specifications you need to understand before ordering pallets. Specifying the wrong entry type for your equipment or racking layout creates handling bottlenecks, equipment damage, and safety risks.
This guide explains what two-way and four-way entry mean, how each construction is built, and how to choose based on your actual equipment and facility layout.
Stamped kiln-dried pallet lumber, bulk warehouse stock, dimensional yard inventory, raw softwood logs, and sawmill operations - the supply chain behind every custom and standard pallet we ship.
The three constructions people mean when they say two-way or four-way, and what each one actually lets your equipment do. The distinction that costs operations the most money is the middle row: a notched stringer pallet is sold as four-way, but only a pallet jack can use the notched side. Your forklift still enters from the ends.
| Construction | Fork entry sides | Counterbalanced forklift | Pallet jack | Reach, turret, VNA, AGV, conveyor | Structural note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-way stringer (solid stringers) | 2, short ends only | Yes, from the ends | No, long sides are closed | Not suitable | Full stringer strength; no notch to weaken |
| Partial four-way stringer (notched) | 2 for forklifts, 4 for pallet jacks | From the ends only | Yes, wheels enter the notches | Not suitable | Reduced integrity at the notch |
| True four-way block (nine blocks, 3x3) | 4, all sides | Yes, from all four | Yes, from all four | Required; these systems will not run without it | No notch weak point; the European standard |
Delivered 48x40 stringer pricing in truckload quantity runs $5 to $9 for Grade B recycled, $9 to $13 for Grade A recycled, and $14 to $18 new, as published on our pallet cost guide. Notching adds a small premium over a plain stringer. Block pallets sit above the stringer tiers and are quoted per order because block count, wood spec, and treatment vary. Verified July 2026.
Work down this table against the equipment list for the facility that will receive the load. If any single line requires true four-way, the whole lane needs block pallets, because a mixed fleet is what creates the jams.
| Your equipment or layout | Minimum entry type | Why | What goes wrong if you get it wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard counterbalanced forklift, conventional racking | Two-way stringer | Forks always approach from an open end | Nothing; paying for block here is wasted spend |
| Manual or electric pallet jack on the long side | Partial four-way (notched) | Jack wheels need the notch to enter | Operators drag or re-orient loads by hand, slowing every pick |
| Reach truck | True four-way block | Approach angle is constrained in the aisle | Missed engagements and damaged stringers |
| Turret truck in very narrow aisle (VNA) | True four-way block | The truck cannot reposition to find an open end | Load cannot be picked at all in the aisle |
| Automated guided vehicle (AGV) | True four-way block | Automation has no operator to re-orient the pallet | Hard stops and fault states on the line |
| Pallet conveyor or ASRS | True four-way block | Transfer points engage from more than one axis | Jams, and notched stringers can snag and shear |
| Export shipment under ISPM-15 | Either; treatment is the real requirement | Compliance is heat treatment, not fork entry | Rejected at the border for treatment, not for entry type |
Export note: block construction shows up on export loads more often because it is the European standard, not because customs requires four-way entry. The compliance requirement is the ISPM-15 heat-treatment stamp. See our heat-treated and ISPM-15 guide. Verified July 2026.
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Two-way pallets allow forklift entry from two sides only (the short ends), while four-way pallets allow forklift entry from all four sides. Standard GMA stringer pallets are two-way entry unless their stringers are notched, which creates partial four-way access. Block pallets are full four-way entry by design. Four-way pallets are more efficient in facilities where forklifts approach from multiple directions, in tight racking configurations, and in operations using pallet jacks that require access from all sides.
