New pallets and skids in Michigan
Michigan has nearly as many auto parts jobs as the next two states combined: 111,465 in 2025, 7.5 times the national concentration. Add 44,870 in vehicle assembly, the most of any state, and the picture is clear. Michigan’s pallets mostly carry parts to assembly lines.
The industry is packed into the southeast. Wayne County had 24,188 assembly jobs and 20,888 in parts; Macomb and Oakland counties each had over 16,000 parts jobs; Kent County, around Grand Rapids, 8,688. Suppliers ship to plant packaging requirements that set the footprint, the height and often the pallet, commonly a 48 x 45 or a 48 x 40.
Plastics plants, many of them making parts for the same assembly lines, add 32,916 jobs. Paint and coating manufacturing is fourth in the country. See automotive parts for how a parts pallet is specified.
Illustrative imageWhere the pallets go
| Industry | Jobs, 2025 | Common footprint |
|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle parts manufacturing | 111,465 | 48 x 45 |
| Motor vehicle manufacturing | 44,870 | 48 x 45 |
| Food manufacturing | 44,404 | 48 x 40 |
| Plastics product manufacturing | 32,916 | Sized to the bag |
| Pharmaceutical manufacturing | 11,060 | 48 x 40 |
Private-sector jobs, BLS QCEW 2025.
Buying in Michigan
Michigan’s pallet buyers are mostly in the auto supply chain: 111,465 auto parts jobs, 7.5 times the national concentration, and 44,870 in vehicle assembly. Suppliers ship to plants under packaging requirements that fix the footprint, often 48 x 45, along with deck coverage and marking. Wayne County leads warehousing with 22,255 jobs. Oakland County adds 4,113 warehousing jobs and Macomb 3,556, both close to the Detroit-area assembly plants whose packaging rules many parts suppliers follow. Warren and Sterling Heights are in Macomb; Pontiac is in Oakland.
Parts suppliers often ship to several assembly plants, each with its own packaging requirement. We keep a separate written spec for each plant’s pallet, numbered and dated, so a revision at one plant doesn’t change the pallets going to another. Send the requirement documents with the request.
Send the size, the load per pallet, the quantity and a Michigan delivery ZIP. We write the build down as a spec, quote new pallets against it with delivery priced in, and reorders follow the same sheet.
Quote new pallets for Michigan
Every pallet is quoted to a written spec, wherever the dock is. Give the delivery ZIP with the size, load and quantity.
- Delivery
- ZIP code in Michigan
- Pallet size
- Stringer length first
- Load weight
- Per pallet, in pounds
Not sure of a line? Leave it blank. Size, load weight and quantity are enough to start a quote.
The builds Michigan’s trades use
- Automotive partsThe 48 x 45, plant packaging requirements, and standing orders matched line for line.
- Food and groceryThe 48 x 40 at its home: distribution centers, food plants and store docks, and why dry, clean lumber matters.
- Plastics and bulk bagsA full, smooth deck under resin bags that slump into any gap.
- PharmaceuticalClean, dry, documented pallets for audited warehouses.