After several stages of deliberations by the ISO/TC51 Pallet Standardization Technical Committee, the International Organization for Standardization has revised the ISO6780 "Main Dimensions and Tolerances of Intermodal Flat Pallets" in 2003.On the basis of the origina four specifications of 1200×1000mm, 1200×800mm, 1219×1016mm (ie 48in×40in) and 1140×1140mm, two specifications of 1100×1100mm and 1067×1067mm have been newly added. So there are currently six international standards for pallets.

The coexistence of the six global pallet standard specifications is not an ideal result. The root cause is that each specification in ISO6780 has different origins. It is a contradictory reflection of the interests of different regions and different national groups on the issue of pallet standards. Therefore, although it is the common aspiration of the international logistics community to unify the intermodal flat pallet specifications and minimize logistics costs, to achieve this requirement, it is necessary to resolve the balance of interests of various regions or national groups on the pallet issue. It is almost impossible to do this in the short term.

The original international standard specifications were only the 1200 series (ie 1200×1000mm and 1200×800mm). This series originated in the European continent. It is generally believed that it was formulated based on the European unified packaging standard size of 600mm×400mm. This standard is soon accepted by various European countries, it has become the basic specification for the manufacture and use of pallets in Europe. However, some western countries such as the United States often use imperial units. In response to their strong request, ISO added the standard 48in×40in in imperial units to the 1200mm series of international standards in 1988. In fact, there is not much difference from 1200× 1000mm, and the difference of length and width is less than 2cm between48in×40in and 1200×1000mm. It can be said that48in×40inis the British version of the 1200mm series. However, the 1200mm series has its disadvantages that cannot be remedied. It does not match the international standard (approximately 2330 mm) for the internal width of the shipping container. This series of pallets can only be stacked in a criss-cross pattern in the container, and cannot be effectively used in the limited space.

In the same year, another square 1140mm×1140mm pallet was added to ISO6780. It is generally believed that this specification best matches the size of the container. The establishment of the 1140mm×1140mm specification can be said to be an intermediate product of a long-term dispute between European countries represented by the 1200mm series and Japan -South Korea which vigorously promote the 1100 mm×1100 mm pallet (referred to as T11). In order to make full use of the bottom flat area of the container and promote the unification of the T11 and 1200mm series, the pallet circles of the two parties finally agreed to increase the 1100mm to 1140mm. It was first listed in ISO3676 "Packaging Unit Cargo Dimensions" in 1982, and then listed in ISO6780 in 1988 in the international standard of "Main Dimensions and Tolerances of Universal Flat Pallets for Intermodal Transport". However, the 1140mm specification has not been able to change the international standardization process of T11. With the long-term unremitting efforts of the Japan-South Korea Pallet Standardization Organization, in 2013, T11 finally became another international standard specification. There is also a square pallet among the six international standard specifications, namely the 1067mm×1067mm (42in×42in) type commonly used in Australia. The advantages of this specification are similar to those of the T11 type. It is widely used in Australia and represents the development level of pallet standardization in Australia.

Since the standards of pallet specifications represent the economic interests of different regions and national groups, it is very difficult for ISO to unify the specifications of the global intermodal pallets. It can only adopt a compatible and inclusive attitude in the end, and juxtapose the specifications of the six pallets into a universal international standard.

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