Canadian Pallet Council (CPC)

Note: The Canadian Pallet Council ceased operations in April 2015.  

The pool was getting run down in its latter years. Deteriorating pallet quality was one of the factors in its decline.

The Canadian Pallet Council (CPC) was a uniquely Canadian member-owned, co-operative pallet pool. Established and based in Canada since 1977, it followed the earlier GPMC (Grocery Products Manufacturers of Canada) pallet program. The CPC provided low cost, competitive pallet services, including an efficient interchange system, for the Canadian consumer products industry. The CPC was a non-profit organization with almost 1,400 members who owned and exchanged the over seven million distinctive orange pallets in circulation.

The CPC did not own pallets. CPC member companies were authorized to own CPC pallets, while the role of the CPC was to administer the pallet specification, interchange, inspection and repair rules, as well as other aspects of the CPC interchange system, including CTSweb tracking software. The CPC pallet was a heavy-duty 48×40″ hardwood stringer pallet.

Mission

The Canadian Pallet Council stated that it offered the consumer goods industry supply chain with the most cost-effective, returnable pallet standards and container interchange system in Canada by setting, monitoring and enforcing policies, procedures, and standards that meet members’ quality and performance requirements. The CPC partnered in container pool management, is a service provider for data and information management and facilitates the ongoing development of member cooperation and commitment.

Key Benefits of Membership in the Canadian Pallet Council included:

• Entitlement to use CPC Pallets and CPC Bills of Lading and participate in the CPC’s efficient pallet interchange system.

• Access to the CTSWEB web-based container tracking software developed by the CPC exclusively for CPC members to assist them in managing all of their returnable assets.

• Education and training on pallet administration for member’s associates.

• Dedicated staff to support members from coast to coast.

• Free of charge access to proprietary, pallet costing software developed specifically for members.

• Lower costs due to competition for pallet services in Canada.

The CPC was an association created by members, serving members by providing low cost, competitive pallet services.