Industrial Lumber & Custom Wood Crates in Florence, AL
We mill cut-to-size lumber in 2x4, 3x4, 4x4, and 6x6, in lengths from 12 inches to 16 feet, and build heavy-duty shipping crates rated up to 10,000 lb. Every board is cut on our saws in Florence, so tolerances hold to plus or minus 1/16 inch.
Metal extruders, machine shops, and building-material plants across North Alabama use our dunnage, blocking, and bracing stock to secure flatbed and container loads. Standing orders ship on a set schedule; new cut lists typically run one to two weeks.
- +/- 1/16 in Cut tolerance
- 2x4 to 6x6 Dimensions milled
- 10,000 lb Max crate load
- 1-2 weeks Typical lead time
Cut-to-Size Industrial Lumber & Cut Stock
Buying full-length lumber and cutting it on your own dock wastes labor, floor space, and 8-12% of every board. Send us your cut list instead: we cut 2x4, 3x4, 4x4, and 6x6 to any length from 12 inches to 16 feet at plus or minus 1/16 inch, band it by line item, and deliver it ready to use.
Hardwood or softwood, green or kiln-dried, plain or ISPM 15 heat-treated. Most cut-stock orders ship in 1-2 weeks.
- 2x4, 3x4, 4x4, 6x6
- 12 in to 16 ft lengths
- Cut to +/- 1/16 in
Cut stock capabilities
| Attribute | Capability |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 2x4, 3x4, 4x4, 6x6 (custom resaw available) |
| Lengths | 12 in to 16 ft |
| Tolerance | +/- 1/16 in |
| Species | Southern yellow pine, mixed hardwood, oak on request |
| Treatment | Green, kiln-dried, or ISPM 15 heat-treated |
| Packaging | Banded and labeled by cut-list line item |
| Lead time | 1-2 weeks |
Wood Dunnage, Blocking & Bracing for Freight Loads
A shifted load is a rejected load, or worse, a DOT stop. We cut dunnage, blocking, and bracing that securement crews can use straight off the bundle: 4x4 and 6x6 dunnage to length, notched coil chocks, chamfered bracing, and drilled runners, all held to plus or minus 1/16 inch.
Metal extruders and steel shippers across North Alabama run our dunnage under coils, tubing, and extrusions on flatbed, rail, and container loads. Standing orders ship on a set schedule; new cut lists typically run one to two weeks.
- Notched, chamfered, drilled
- Flatbed, rail, and container
- HT stock for export
Common dunnage and blocking specs
| Product | Typical Spec |
|---|---|
| Flatbed dunnage | 4x4 or 6x6, cut 48 in, SYP |
| Coil chocks | 6x6 notched at 30-45 degrees, hardwood |
| Container blocking | 2x4 / 4x4 cut to container width, HT stamped |
| Bracing | 2x4 angle-cut, chamfered ends |
| Rail dunnage | Per AAR loading rules, hardwood |
| Treatment | ISPM 15 HT for export containers |
Custom Wood Crates, Built to the Part
Proper crating protects high-value equipment from costly transit damage. We build custom wood crates to your part's exact dimensions and weight: skid bases sized for forklift entry, cleated plywood or slat panels, and internal blocking that keeps the part from moving inside the crate.
We are ISPM 15 certified, so export crates are built from heat-treated lumber and stamped on site. Load ratings run to 10,000 lb. Send part dimensions, weight, and destination and you will have a drawing and price.
- Rated to 10,000 lb
- ISPM 15 compliant
- Built around your part
Crate build capabilities
| Attribute | Capability |
|---|---|
| Max load | 10,000 lb |
| Styles | Fully sheathed, slatted, open-frame, collapsible |
| Base | 3x4 or 4x4 skids, forklift entry both directions |
| Panels | 1/2 in CDX plywood or 1x lumber, cleated |
| Interior | Blocking, bracing, foam lining on request |
| Compliance | ISPM 15 HT, IPPC stamped on site |
| Lead time | 1-2 weeks |
Why Buy From Shoals Box & Pallet
Cut Lists, Not Catalogs
Send a cut list with 20 different lengths and get back exactly that: banded, labeled by line item, and stacked in cutting order.
ISPM 15 Crating On Site
Export crates are built from heat-treated stock and stamped in-house, so international shipments never wait on outside certification.
Cut to Your List, On Schedule
Typical lead time is one to two weeks depending on the cut list, crate size, and quantity. Tell us your deadline and we will tell you honestly whether we can hit it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What lumber dimensions do you cut?
Standard dimensions are 2x4, 3x4, 4x4, and 6x6, cut to any length from 12 inches to 16 feet at plus or minus 1/16 inch. We also resaw custom thicknesses for runners and deck stock.
Can you notch or chamfer dunnage?
Yes. We notch, chamfer, drill, and band dunnage to your drawing. Coil chocks, pipe cradles, and angle-cut bracing are all standard work.
Are your crates export compliant?
Yes. Export crates are built from ISPM 15 heat-treated lumber and stamped with the IPPC mark on site. We keep treatment records for every batch.
How do I get a crate quoted?
Send the part dimensions, weight, and destination. We reply with a drawing, unit price, and lead time. Photos of the part help but are not required.
What is the minimum cut-stock order?
One bundle, roughly 50 pieces of a single spec. Below that, stock lengths from a lumberyard are usually cheaper. Most customers order weekly or monthly cut lists of 500-5,000 pieces.
Hardwood or softwood for dunnage and blocking?
Southern yellow pine covers most blocking and bracing at the lowest cost. Use mixed hardwood or oak where crush resistance matters: under coil loads, machinery skids, and point loads. We will spec it from your load weight.
Can you drill, notch, or chamfer cut stock?
Yes. Notching, chamfering, drilling, and angle cuts are quoted per operation. Send a drawing or a sketch with dimensions.
Do you deliver less-than-truckload lumber orders?
Yes. Cut stock rides our regular North Alabama routes alongside pallet and box deliveries, so LTL quantities do not carry a dedicated-truck freight charge.
What size dunnage do I need under a coil?
Depends on coil weight and whether it ships eye-to-sky or eye-to-side. Typical is 6x6 hardwood chocks notched 30-45 degrees for eye-to-side coils. Send coil weight and orientation and we will spec chock size and species.
Does dunnage in an export container need ISPM 15?
Yes. All solid wood packaging in an international shipment, including loose dunnage and blocking, must be heat-treated and stamped. We cut export dunnage from certified HT stock and it carries the mark.
Can you match AAR rail loading specs?
Yes. Give us the AAR figure number from your loading diagram and we cut to it: species, dimension, and length.
How is dunnage priced?
Per piece, based on dimension, length, species, and operations (notching, drilling). Volume cut lists get bracket pricing. Send your cut list for pricing.
What information do you need to quote a crate?
Part length, width, height, and weight, plus how it ships (truck, ocean, air) and destination. Photos help. If the part has lift points or a high center of gravity, tell us. It changes the base design.
Do you build one-off crates?
Yes. Single crates for machinery moves, trade-show equipment, and plant relocations are regular work. For a one-off, drop-off at our Florence dock or our delivery of the empty crate both work.
Are your crates rated for ocean freight?
Yes. Fully sheathed crates with HT lumber and moisture barriers on request handle container and breakbulk ocean moves. Tell us if the crate will be stored outdoors at either end.
Can you crate the part for us?
We primarily build and deliver crates. For pack-out at your site, ask when you call, depending on the job and location we can quote on-site crating labor.
Quality Products. Priority Service. Delivered On Schedule.
Materials that hold up, a team member who answers, and deliveries that arrive when promised. Tell us what you're shipping, and we'll help determine the right packaging specifications.
Monday-Thursday 7:30-4:30 · Friday 7:30-12:00