"Pallet Securement: Poor Securement" Defect

What is "Pallet Securement" at Walmart? 

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

In the updated Secondary Packaging Supply Chain Standards (SPSCS '23), Walmart defines "Pallet Securement" as "Poor securement, bagged item, missing tray, or other pallet securement defects" (187). For more specific direction on how to stay compliant with pallet standards, see pages 230-233 of 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. 

What is the "Pallet Securement: Poor Securement" Defect? 

"Pallet Securement" is broken up into two sub-defects: "Poor Securement" and "Bagged Items Missing Pallet Barrier."

Walmart's defines the defect "Pallet Securement: Poor Securement" as "Pallets arrived intact but require additional wrap or securement to maintain stability throughout the warehouse" (190). The type of wrap, how it is wrapped, and the force the wrap puts on the load are all important factors.

Pages 327-328 and 244 also contain helpful information on this topic.

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

How to Prevent Valid "Pallet Securement: Poor Securement" Defects

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.

The only way to really prevent valid "Pallet Securement: Poor Securement" defects is by making sure that the wrap on the pallets themselves are enough. Page 244 especially details how much wrap is ideal for pallets. 

Can the "Pallet Securement: Poor Securement" Defect be Disputed? 

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

How to Dispute "Pallet Securement: Poor Securement" 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 "Pallet Securement: Poor Securement" defect, the pictures attached to tickets in the FIXit app will be important for successfully overturning invalid disputes. These are rarely invalid, however, and are more useful for learning how to take corrective action to become compliant.  But "poor securement" can be hard to define rigidly, so it may be worth disputing these whenever the images don't show a clear lack of compliance.

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!