How to Choose Pallet Storage in Ireland: 7 Questions to Ask Any Provider

Finding pallet storage in Ireland is straightforward; finding the right pallet storage provider is harder. The wrong choice can cost your business money, create stock visibility problems, and leave you managing two separate suppliers when you need just one.

This guide sets out the seven questions you should ask any pallet storage provider in Ireland before you sign up.

Question 1: Do You Handle Distribution In-House, or Do You Subcontract It?

This is the single most important question. Many pallet storage providers in Ireland are storage-only operations; when you need to ship, they hand off to a third-party haulier you may not know or have contracted with.

A provider with their own transport fleet and network membership (like Joe McGovern Transport's founding membership in the Palletxpress Network) gives you integrated storage and distribution under one roof. That means one invoice, one point of contact, and accountability that runs from the moment your goods arrive to the moment they reach your customer.

Question 2: Do You Have Forklift Access and What Type of Equipment?

Confirm that the facility has the equipment to handle your pallets efficiently. Key questions:

1. 1 Do they have indoor forklifts or outdoor only? Indoor electric forklifts are needed for food-safe handling and clean goods
2. 2 What is the maximum pallet weight they handle?
3. 3 Can they devan containers (20 ft and 40 ft)? Critical for importers
4. 4 What is the max stack height, and are pallets stored in racking or floor-stacked?

Question 3: Is the Facility Food Licensed?

If you store food products, even ambient, non-refrigerated goods, your storage facility must be licensed for food storage under Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) requirements. Ask for confirmation of food licensing before signing. Not all Irish pallet storage facilities are food licensed.

Joe McGovern Transport is licensed to store food products at our Co. Cavan facility.

Question 4: What Technology Do You Use for Stock Management?

You should be able to see your stock levels in real time without phoning the warehouse. Ask:

• 1 Do you have a client portal for real-time stock visibility?
• 2 Can I see inbound and outbound movement history?
• 3 How are stock discrepancies handled and reported?

Providers without a WMS (warehouse management system) or client portal create operational blind spots. Joe McGovern Transport provides a bespoke stock management system with an online client portal for all storage customers.

Question 5: What Are Your Contract Terms?

The market standard for Irish pallet storage ranges from no-contract rolling weekly agreements to 12-month fixed contracts. The right choice depends on your business, but be wary of providers who push for long-term commitments before you have established a track record with them.

Joe McGovern Transport operates on flexible terms with a minimum one-week storage period and no long-term contract requirement. You can scale up or down as your business needs change.

Question 6: What Is Your Coverage for Distribution?

If you need to deliver to customers across Ireland, confirm that your storage provider can cover all 32 counties on an overnight basis. Not all hauliers have 32-county coverage.

Joe McGovern Transport is a founding member of the Palletxpress Network, Ireland's number one palletised freight service with guaranteed overnight coverage of all 32 counties. We also offer 48-hour UK delivery with full customs clearance.

Question 7: How Do You Handle Container Devanning?

If you import containers from the UK, Europe, or Asia, ask whether the facility can strip a 20 ft or 40 ft container on-site. Container devanning, unloading a container, counting, checking, and palletising the contents, requires specific equipment and labour.

Not all pallet storage facilities offer container devanning. Joe McGovern Transport strips and palletises both 20 ft and 40 ft containers as part of our storage service.

The Joe McGovern Transport Checklist

Joe McGovern Transport has been providing pallet storage and distribution to Irish businesses since 2005 from our 100,000 sq ft purpose-built facility in Bawnboy, Co. Cavan. We are part of a family logistics business operating since 1992.

About Joe McGovern Transport

We work on flexible terms with no long-term lock-in and provide a detailed written quote for all pallet storage enquiries within one business day. To explore your options further, see our full pallet storage service page, check our pallet storage rates, or compare pallet storage vs self-storage vs 3PL.