48forty
48forty Solutions is a U.S. pallet management company providing recycled, new, and custom pallets plus supply, retrieval, and on-site services to national retailers, grocers, manufacturers, distributors, e-commerce, and agricultural shippers across 235+ North American facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersAlpharetta, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What 48forty does
48forty Solutions is a U.S. pallet management company that provides end-to-end pallet supply, retrieval, recycling, and on-site services to national retailers, grocers, manufacturers, distributors, e-commerce firms, and agricultural shippers across more than 235 facilities in the United States and Canada, handling over 300 million pallets annually. Its service platform is anchored by two proprietary technology assets: PalTrax, a customer-facing online portal for 24/7 ordering, retrieval scheduling, electronic proof of delivery, and custom reporting, and Pallet-Track, a pallet-industry software platform acquired via Innovative Data Systems in 2022 that supports complex manufacturing environments and pallet tracking. The company has deployed AI-driven inspection systems to standardize grading quality and feed ERP-grade data into customer reporting.
The company generates revenue through a mix of transaction-based pallet sales (recycled and new/custom), retrieval and reverse-logistics fees, managed on-site pallet services at customer facilities, and pallet-buying transactions with manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated by a national sales organization structured around enterprise field sales, regional plant managers, and a self-serve digital channel. Since 2020, 48forty has been private-equity backed, initially by Audax Private Equity, then joined by Summit Partners in 2022, and completed an approximately $1.75 billion private credit recapitalization in October 2024 with Antares Capital, KKR, and BlackRock, followed by a proposed debt restructuring in June 2025.
48forty firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 48forty
- Legal name
- 48forty Solutions LLC
- Website
- https://48forty.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- 48forty Solutions is a U.S. pallet management company providing recycled, new, and custom pallets plus supply, retrieval, and on-site services to national retailers, grocers, manufacturers, distributors, e-commerce, and agricultural shippers across 235+ North American facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
48forty industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pallet Management Services
- NAICS
- Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing (32192), Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing (321920), Support Activities for Transportation (488)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080), Wholesale-Durable Goods (5000), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pallets (Wood, Plastic, Metal, Presswood) (IMALAFAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pallets, Bins, Totes & Returnable Transport Packaging (RTP) (IMAHABAG), Palletizing, Shrink-Wrapping & Freight-Ready Unitization (HSAKADAJ)
Keywords
Where 48forty is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alpharetta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
48forty business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Pallet Supply & Retrieval Services: Core business of providing recycled and new pallets to customers nationwide with pickup and delivery services. Revenue generated through sale of pallets, retrieval fees, and ongoing service relationships with national accounts.
- New & Custom Pallet Manufacturing: Custom pallet manufacturing services for customers with specific requirements beyond recycled pallets. Network of plants can provide new and custom sized pallets anywhere in the country.
- Pallet Buying & Recycling: Purchase of used pallets from manufacturers, distributors, grocers, and retailers for recycling and reuse. Single-source buyer with largest network in North America.
- Onsite Pallet Management Services: Retail services including onsite pallet management where 48forty staff manages pallet operations directly at customer facilities.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
48forty product offering
Product offeringCore offering
48forty provides end-to-end pallet management solutions across North America, including pallet supply and retrieval, new and custom pallet manufacturing, recycled pallet sales, and on-site pallet management services for retailers, grocers, manufacturers, and distributors. The company operates an asset-based model owning warehouses, trucks, trailers, and pallet inventory across 235+ facilities, and supports customers through the proprietary PalTrax online portal and Pallet-Track software platform.
Product overview
48forty is a national pallet management company offering a platform of pallet management solutions centered around its PalTrax™ online customer portal and Pallet-Track® software platform. The core offerings include recycled pallets (the company's largest business with 90 million pallets in force), new and custom pallets, and pallet supply and retrieval services supported by the company's owned fleet of tractors and trailers. Additional services include onsite/retail services, and asset-based pallet management where 48forty owns all supply chain assets. The company has expanded through acquisitions including Relogistics and Prime360 for custom pallet management, Oregon Pallet for regional recycling operations, and IDS for software capabilities enhancing Pallet-Track®.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pallet Supply & Retrieval National pallet supply and retrieval services with an owned fleet of tractors and trailers available 24/7 for delivery and pickup operations. Designed for retailers, grocers, manufacturers, and distributors needing consistent pallet supply across multiple locations.
- Recycled Pallets Recycled wooden pallets available at approximately half the cost of new pallets, sourced from the company's nationwide network of over 235 facilities, with 90 million recycled pallets in force. Sold to retailers, grocers, manufacturers, and distributors as a cost-effective pallet option.
- New & Custom Pallets New and custom-sized wooden pallets manufactured to customer specifications through 48forty's network of plants across the country, providing cost-effective pallet options that meet exact requirements.
- Onsite Services (Retail Services) On-site pallet management services provided by 48forty staff at customer facilities to streamline pallet operations, reduce waste at retail customer sites, and handle reverse logistics for pallet retrieval.
- Asset-Based Pallet Management End-to-end pallet solutions where 48forty owns all assets necessary to support the supply chain including warehouses, distribution centers, trucks, trailers, and pallets, providing maximum control, reliability, and efficiency for customers.
- PalTrax Online Customer Portal Industry-leading online customer portal enabling 24/7 pallet order placement, retrieval scheduling, order history tracking, bills of lading access, proof of delivery documentation with eSignature, custom report generation, and express ordering capabilities. Accessible via mobile and desktop devices.
Quantifiable outcome
- Cut cost per pallet in half without sacrificing performance by switching to recycled pallets
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use 48forty
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
48forty technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
48forty partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Innovative Data Systems (IDS)coreAcquired Florida-based software company specializing in pallet industry software. The acquisition enhances 48forty's service offerings by improving the Pallet-Track software platform and supporting complex manufacturing environments.
- Oxnard PalletminorPallet recycling company in California referenced in sustainability reporting context. Industry peer sharing sustainability practices.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
48forty competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CHEP (Brambles): Global leader in pallet and container pooling, sharing customers and use cases with 48forty. Operates a pooled-asset model that overlaps directly with 48forty's supply and retrieval services for national retailers and manufacturers.
- IFCO: Reusable plastic containers and pallet pooling provider serving grocery, retail, and food customers. Closely comparable to 48forty's end-to-end pallet management and onsite services, and former employer of several 48forty executives.
- PalletOne: One of the largest U.S. manufacturers of new and recycled wood pallets, serving the same national retail, grocery, and industrial customer base as 48forty. Operates multiple plants across the United States with comparable product mix.
- Kamps Pallets: U.S. pallet manufacturer and recycler operating more than 400 locations nationwide. Direct competitor in recycled and custom pallet supply, asset-based delivery, and national account management.
- Millwood: Full-service pallet and material handling solutions provider offering new, recycled, and custom pallets plus packaging machinery. Competes head-to-head with 48forty in national account pallet programs.
- Tosca: Reusable packaging and pallet pooling provider serving grocery, retail, and food supply chains. Comparable end-to-end model and similar customer verticals, with a stronger emphasis on pooled assets.
- Buckeye Diamond Logistics: U.S. pallet recycler and management services provider with national footprint. Direct competitor in recycled pallet supply, retrieval, and reverse logistics for retail and grocery customers.
- Cox Pallets (BlueTree Companies): National pallet recycler and management services company. Competes with 48forty in recycled pallet supply, retrieval, and onsite services across multiple U.S. regions.
- iGPS Logistics: Plastic pallet pooling and pallet management provider serving consumer goods, grocery, and manufacturing customers. Comparable in pallet management services with a differentiated plastic-pallet asset base.
- National Pallet: U.S. pallet management company providing recycled and new pallet supply and retrieval. Comparable service offering and customer base, operating as a regional-to-national competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
48forty social profiles
Digital presence48forty compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
48forty financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
48forty leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
48forty subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
48forty funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
48forty M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A11 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 48forty
What does 48forty do?
48forty provides end-to-end pallet management solutions across North America, including pallet supply and retrieval, new and custom pallet manufacturing, recycled pallet sales, and on-site pallet management services for retailers, grocers, manufacturers, and distributors. The company operates an asset-based model owning warehouses, trucks, trailers, and pallet inventory across 235+ facilities, and supports customers through the proprietary PalTrax online portal and Pallet-Track software platform.
Is 48forty a public or private company?
48forty is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was 48forty founded?
48forty was founded in 1992. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is 48forty based?
48forty is headquartered in Alpharetta, United States, in the North America region.
How does 48forty make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Pallet Supply & Retrieval Services are the primary driver. The others are new & Custom Pallet Manufacturing, pallet Buying & Recycling and onsite Pallet Management Services.
Who are 48forty's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CHEP (Brambles), IFCO, PalletOne, Kamps Pallets, Millwood, Tosca, Buckeye Diamond Logistics, Cox Pallets (BlueTree Companies), iGPS Logistics and National Pallet.
Does 48forty have an API?
No public API is recorded for 48forty.
What industry is 48forty in?
48forty's product category is Pallet Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAFAF, Pallets (Wood, Plastic, Metal, Presswood), with a secondary code of IMAHABAG, Pallets, Bins, Totes & Returnable Transport Packaging (RTP). Its NAICS code is 32192 and its SIC code is 5080.