Timber skids are rigid, horizontal platforms used for storing and transporting various items. The skids help to stack, transport and store heavy loads—for instance, steel and concrete products. When buying skids, you should consider several factors, such as wood quality, skid type,and deck configurations. Timber skids are designed while considering load conditions encountered during transportation and storage. Here are some facts for beginners to note when buying timber skids for storage and transport of products.

Skid Types -- Wood skids are primarily used for safe transportation of materials such as roll steel and iron sheets. The type of skid to purchase depends on the variety of items you intend to transport. For example, pipes and round objects such as horizontal cylinders can be carried easily using saddle and cradle skids. The runners and top boards of such timber skids are thicker compared to other skids; as a result, they can withstand heavy loads. Also, the thickness enables faster loading and unloading of cargo. Coil skids and sheet skids are ideal for transporting flat and thin materials such as steel sheeting. For such cargo, create an adequate clearance between the wooden boards and the floor for enhanced structural support. Moreover, thicker hardwood runners ensure that your load does not lean heavily. Therefore, choose your skids wisely to avoid damage to your cargo and the resultant expenses.

Wood Quality and Strength -- Wood quality is an integral aspect when planning to buy wooden skids for transportation and storage. Moisture content, ambient temperature, wood density and grain size are parameters that determine the quality of skids. Under adverse weather conditions, some wood types can absorb too much moisture, and thus degrade the quality of timber skids. For this reason, the skids should meet the minimum heat treatment requirement set by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

Load Bearing Capability -- Can your wooden skids handle the weight of the load without giving in? It is a question that novice people grapple with when assessing the load-bearing capacity of timber skids.  Most skids will bear a load capacity limit specified by the manufacturer, which is based on several tests that are conducted during the design and manufacturing process. Therefore, contact the manufacturer or timber skid expert if you don't have a load bearing specification sheet. Additionally, it is recommended that you keep within the skid load capacity rating to avoid incidences of breakages that can lead to lost productivity, costly inventory and safety hazards to employees. Furthermore, improper stacking that causes uneven cargo distribution can diminish a skid's load capacity.