Closeout and liquidation truckloads explained
A closeout truckload is a full trailer of goods, usually a 53-foot dry van that holds 26 standard pallets single-stacked on the floor, sold as one lot. It is the cheapest way to move closeouts per unit, but it needs a dock or forklift, floor space and the cash to buy in volume. Approved buyers can make offers on closeout truckloads on Skyline Dealz Marketplace.
Reviewed by Tyler Kober · Updated
Key takeaways
- A 53-foot dry van fits 26 standard 48 by 40 inch pallets single-stacked on the floor; more fit if pallets can be stacked safely.
- Trucks on US interstates are generally limited to 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, which caps how much a heavy load can carry.
- Freight per unit drops sharply on a full truckload compared with LTL pallets.
- Receiving a truckload needs a dock or a forklift, an appointment and space for every pallet.
What counts as a truckload?
In the closeout trade, a truckload usually means a full 53-foot dry van trailer of goods sold as one lot, often as a take-all. It might be 26 pallets of one product, 26 pallets of mixed goods, or loose cartons floor-loaded from front to back. Some sellers also offer partial truckloads, which ship as volume LTL or on a dedicated truck and usually cost less per pallet than single pallets.
Our glossary explains the FTL truckload and take-all deals.
Capacity: space and weight
| Limit | What it means |
|---|---|
| Floor space | 26 standard 48 by 40 inch pallets single-stacked, two across and thirteen deep, in a 53-foot dry van |
| Stacking | Light, sturdy pallets can sometimes be double-stacked, increasing the count; fragile goods cannot |
| Weight | Most interstate trucks are limited to 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, including the truck and trailer |
| Floor-loaded cartons | Without pallets, more cartons fit, but loading and unloading take far longer |
How much product the trailer can carry depends on the truck and trailer weight. Ask the carrier for the payload limit on your lane, and ask the seller for the real load weight. Light goods "cube out" (fill the space before the weight limit) and heavy goods "weigh out" (hit the weight limit with space left). Knowing which one your load does helps you understand its freight cost per unit. Our guide on how many pallets fit in a trailer covers smaller trucks and other trailer sizes too.
Partial truckloads and smaller trucks
Not every buyer needs 26 pallets. Two in-between options are common:
- Partial or volume LTL: a shipment of several pallets, too many for standard LTL pricing but well short of a full trailer, priced as a block rather than pallet by pallet. It still shares the trailer, but with fewer stops and less handling than single pallets.
- Straight trucks (box trucks): shorter trucks with their own cargo box, often with a liftgate, used for local and regional deliveries to sites that cannot take a 53-foot trailer.
Ask for both quotes when a load is between pallet and truckload size. A partial truckload sometimes costs nearly the same as a full truck on long lanes, which makes the full load the better buy if you have the room.
Who buys truckloads?
- Jobbers and wholesalers who split loads into pallets and cases for smaller stores. See closeout supply for jobbers and wholesalers.
- Discount chains and established bin stores with weekly volume and their own warehouse.
- Exporters who move a truckload straight to a port or consolidator.
- Large online resellers with warehouse space and staff to process.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lowest freight cost per unit | Large cash outlay per deal |
| One delivery, one inspection, one set of paperwork | Needs dock, forklift and floor space |
| Access to take-all deals that are not sold by the pallet | You take every SKU, including the weak ones |
| Better price per unit on the goods | Longer sell-through; risk of goods going out of season |
Cost thinking for a truckload
Freight on a full truckload is priced for the whole truck, by distance and lane, not by pallet. That is why it is cheaper per unit, and why distance still matters. Work out:
- Load price at the ship-from location.
- Truck cost to your dock. The logistics block on this page shows an estimate; our guide on what a full truckload costs explains how carriers price it.
- Unloading: your staff time or a lumper fee if a third party unloads.
- Unsellable share: damaged, short-dated or unwanted items.
- Holding cost: storage and the cash tied up until the load sells through.
Divide by sellable units. For illustration only, with round numbers that are not market prices: a $20,000 load of 26 pallets and 10,000 units, plus $3,000 of truck freight and $300 to unload, comes to $23,300. If 500 units are unsellable, that is about $2.45 per sellable unit. Move the same goods as several LTL shipments and the freight per unit is usually higher, which is the case for taking the full truck when you can store and sell it.
Receiving a truckload
- Book an appointment with the carrier and give a contact who will answer the phone.
- Clear the dock and floor for the full pallet count before the truck arrives.
- Know your free time. Carriers allow a set time to unload before charging detention. The free time and the detention rate are set by the carrier, so ask for them when the delivery is booked.
- Check the seal. If the trailer is sealed, note the seal number on the delivery receipt before breaking it.
- Count and inspect pallets as they come off, and note shortages or damage on the receipt before signing.
- Photograph the trailer interior before and during unloading.
Floor-loaded cartons take much longer to unload than pallets. Plan staff accordingly, or pay for a lumper.
Storing and selling through a truckload
Sort the load into sell-now, sell-later and problem items within days of delivery. Put sell-now goods out first. Price problem items to move. Keep seasonal goods in dry, secure storage. Track sell-through by category, so your next truckload has more of what moved and less of what did not.
If 26 pallets is too much, start with a partial truckload or a few liquidation pallets. If you are exporting, compare with container loads, which have different dimensions and rules.
Buying truckloads on Skyline Dealz Marketplace
Skyline Dealz Marketplace offers loads to approved members, often as full or partial truckloads. Request access, tell us your receiving setup and how many pallets you can take, and set alerts. Each listing shows the pallet count, lot type, ship-from location and a freight estimate to your ship-to address, so you can check the truck cost before you offer. An accepted offer puts the truckload on hold for you; payment and pickup follow the terms agreed on the deal, and the load is then marked sold.
Frequently asked questions
How many pallets are in a truckload?
A standard 53-foot dry van holds 26 pallets of 48 by 40 inches single-stacked on the floor, two across and thirteen deep. If the goods are light and the pallets can be stacked without crushing, a trailer can hold more. Heavy goods may reach the weight limit before the floor is full.
How much does a truckload of closeouts weigh?
It depends on what is in it. A trailer of paper goods or plastic housewares fills up long before it reaches the weight limit, while a trailer of liquids, canned goods or hardware can reach the limit with empty floor space left. Check the stated weight on the listing and make sure your receiving equipment can handle it.
Do I need a loading dock to receive a truckload?
A dock makes it simple. Without one, you need a forklift that can reach into a trailer from the ground, or you must pay for the load to be transferred to smaller trucks. A 53-foot trailer also needs room to turn and park. Check your site before you buy.
Is a truckload cheaper than buying pallets?
Usually per unit, yes, because one truck price is spread over 26 or more pallets and the freight is handled once. The total spend is much higher, though, and you take on more stock and more risk. A truckload only saves money if you can sell through it before the goods lose value.
Related
Approved buyers see live loads, prices and manifests. Or call +1 215 278 4122.