GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 18, 2026

Pallet exchange at the port delivery agent

Smooth port operations depend on clear rules about when and how carriers recover their pallets—pallet exchange at the port delivery agent addresses exactly this.

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Last updated: 18 June 2026Published: 22 November 2025

Source: https://www.logisticsglossary.com/pallet-exchange

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Logistics Concept

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1 min

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Definition & Explanation

Smooth port operations depend on clear rules about when and how carriers recover their pallets—pallet exchange at the port delivery agent addresses exactly this. After discharge, loaded pallets are swapped directly for empty or equivalent return pallets, allowing the carrier or forwarder to take back their loading equipment immediately without leaving it in terminal storage. The practice is most common in break-bulk and Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off) operations where Euro or ISO pallets serve as standardized load carriers. Proper execution requires that pallet count and condition are documented at delivery—typically on the delivery note or a dedicated pallet receipt. Some terminal operators charge separate handling fees for the exchange; others include it within standard unloading tariffs.