"Load Stability: Not Palletized" Defect

What is "Load Stability" at Walmart? 

Load compliance is one part of SQEP's Phase 3 program, the others being Pallet and Packaging compliance.

In the updated Secondary Packaging Supply Chain Standards (SPSCS '23), Walmart defines "Load Stability" as "Shifted, unstable, not palletized, or other load stability defects."

What is the "Load Stability: Not Palletized" Defect? 

Within "Load Stability" are two main sub-defects: "Not Palletized" and "Shifted or Unstable." "Load Stability: Not Palletized" is defined by the SPSCS '23 as "Staple stock freight is not palletized."

Staple Stock is merchandise that is stored in the warehouse/DC inventory (type 20 & 50 items), while Distribution belongs in flow through inventory. All Staple Stock needs to be on a pallet due to it being stored at Regional DC's

Walmart requests that staple stock is loaded at the nose/portion of a trailer furthest from the opening while Distribution Assembly items are supposed to be loaded closer to the tail or nearest opening door of a trailer.

Staple stock and assembly POs should not be shipped on the same Pallet.

For more on load stability, see pages 235-240, 296, 362-364 (Appendix C) in the SPSCS '23.

Note: these page numbers are the ones at the top of each page in the SPSCS '23, not necessarily the PDFs page numbers. 

How to Prevent Valid "Load Stability: Not Palletized" Defects

See pages 230-234 for an exhaustive description of Walmart's Pallet Standards.

On page 230 of the SPSCS '23, Walmart enumerates their "Minimum Grade A Stringer Pallet Standards" in detail:

• Full pallet 48" +/- .25 x 40" +/- .25"; partial four-way entry.

• Half pallet 48" +/- .25 x 20" +/- .25", for approved programs only.

• Quarter pallet 24" +/- .25 x 20" +/- .25", for approved programs only.

Essential to avoiding this defect is knowing the difference between small parcel packages and regular, palletized cases. Pages 195-201 contain flow charts describing which forms of packaging are too small for TL and LTL shipments.

Other parts of the SPSCS '23 with relevance to correct pallet compliance are:

• Pallet Labeling - Perishable Labeling Requirements: 303

• Pallet Labeling - General Merchandise: 206-210

• Pallet Labeling - Direct Import: 276-283

• Pallet Securement - Stretch Wrap: 229

• Pallet Securement - Unitized Shipments: 239

• Pallet Build - Unitized Shipments: 225

• Pallet Build - Double Stacking - Inbound to Walmart: 222

• Pallet Build - Direct Import: 276-283

• Pallet Quality - Pallet Standards: 216-219

Can the "Load Stability: Not Palletized" Defect be Disputed? 

Yes, in HighRadius, just like all other compliance fine disputes at Walmart. 

How to Dispute "Load Stability: Not Palletized" Defects 

If the fine is invalid, assign the FIXit ticket back to Walmart with the dispute reason. Sometimes FIXit tickets will disappear after this if the dispute reason is valid and Walmart accepts it. Even still, it's a good idea to follow up in HighRadius with the ticket number to make sure that the charge disappears as well.

As always, attach any proof documentation to further validate the dispute reason. When filing a dispute, fill in the information for "Dispute Reason," "Amount to be Disputed," "Comments" (if applicable), and "Attachment" (for relevant documents). In the case of pallet compliance, the photos attached to tickets in FIXit will likely be essential to (1) knowing if the fine is valid in the first place and (2) for making a convincing case when the fine actually is invalid.

For the "Load Stability: Not Palletized" defect, the pictures attached to tickets in the FIXit app will be important for successfully overturning invalid disputes.

Disputes can also be monitored and updated in HighRadius under the "Disputes" tab. 

More SQEP: Continued Learning and Our Solution

For an exhaustive resource on all things related to SQEP compliance, download our SQEP Handbook.

If you would like more insight into your SQEP performance and a way to quickly and painlessly dispute invalid SQEP fines, schedule a meeting with a member of the SupplyPike team today!