Wood Skids for Ontario Industries: Uses, Specifications, and Sourcing

While pallets dominate most supply chains, wood skids remain essential for Ontario's heavy industry sectors — particularly where loads are static, extremely heavy, or require a flat single-deck platform for stability.

What Is a Wood Skid?

A skid is a single-deck load platform supported by stringers or feet, with no bottom deck. Unlike a pallet, a skid cannot be entered from all four sides by a standard pallet jack — it typically requires a crane or specialized forklift attachment. Skids are designed for heavy, stationary loads like machinery bases, dies, stamping equipment, and large industrial assemblies that need to be placed and left rather than constantly moved.

Common Uses in Ontario Industry

In Ontario's manufacturing belt — from Mississauga and Brampton through Hamilton and into the Oshawa corridor — wood skids are used extensively in: automotive die and tooling transport, plastic injection mold shipping, press and stamping machine installation, heavy electrical equipment (transformers, switchgear), large compressors and HVAC units, and machine tool distribution. Anywhere a forklift or crane needs to set something down and walk away, a skid is the right platform.

Skid vs. Pallet: Choosing the Right Platform for Heavy Loads

For loads above 4,000–5,000 lbs that will not be racked, moved frequently, or transported on standard pallet jacks, a skid is the appropriate choice. For loads that will travel through distribution centers, be racked in warehouses, or be handled by standard counterbalance forklifts, a pallet provides better equipment compatibility. When in doubt, our team can advise based on your specific load and handling environment.

Custom Skid Specifications We Build To

We manufacture wood skids in any dimension required, including non-standard widths and lengths for oversized machinery. Typical custom skid specifications include: extra-heavy bottom stringers (4x4 or 6x6 lumber) for high load ratings; notched or cut-outs for crane lifting straps; lag-bolt points for securing machinery; and ISPM-15 heat treatment for export. Provide us with your load dimensions and weight and we'll design the appropriate skid.

Skid Supply Across Ontario

Serv-U-Pallets Inc. supplies both standard and custom wood skids to manufacturers and equipment dealers across Ontario. Whether you need a single skid for a one-time machinery move or a recurring supply for your production output, we deliver from our Mississauga facility across the GTA and throughout the province. Contact us for a custom skid quote.