How to Order Biomass by Truckload: What to Check Before Delivery

A full truck carries about 22 tonnes of bagged or palletized biomass, and most problems with a truckload order can be avoided with six checks before you pay and five checks when it arrives. This guide covers pellets, briquettes, shavings, and firewood for farms, heat plants, resellers, and large households.

Before you order

1. Ask for the exact product specification. For pellets, that means the ENplus class (A1, A2, or B), diameter, moisture, ash content, and fines. Read how ENplus certification works and ask for the certificate number of the producer.
2. Confirm the packaging. 15 kg bags on pallets, big bags of about 1 tonne, or loose bulk blown in by silo truck. Our bulk vs. bagged analysis shows when each pays.
3. Get the pallet size and weight in writing. A typical pallet of 15 kg pellet bags carries about 1 tonne, so a 22-tonne truck holds about 22 pallets. Ask for pallet dimensions and height so you can plan storage.
4. Check where the truck can go. A 22-tonne truck is 16 to 18 m long. It needs a firm, level surface and room to turn. If your road is narrow, tell the seller before you order.
5. Plan unloading. A forklift or pallet truck on site, or a truck with a tail lift or crane. Pallets cannot be hand-carried. Without equipment, ask about bagged loads on a smaller vehicle.
6. Agree on the price basis. Price per tonne, delivered or ex-works, tax, and the delivery window. Write it into the order confirmation.

Storage space

One tonne of pellets needs about 1.5 m³. A 22-tonne load needs about 33 m³ of dry, covered floor space, stacked on pallets, off the ground and away from damp walls. Moisture is the main risk for stored pellets, as covered in our storage guide.

On delivery: five checks before the driver leaves

1. Count the pallets and compare with the delivery note. Count bags on a few pallets.
2. Look at the packaging. Torn, wet, or crushed bags and crooked pallets are noted on the delivery note before you sign.
3. Check the labels. For certified pellets the bag shows the ENplus mark, the producer, and the class. A label that does not match your order is a reason to refuse that pallet.
4. Take samples. Open three bags from different pallets. Pellets should be smooth, hard, evenly sized, and smell of fresh wood. Pour a handful on a dark surface. Dust and crumbs above about 1% by weight point to excess fines.
5. Take photos and write remarks on the delivery note. Photograph damage and the driver’s signature. A remark such as “three pallets with wet bags” keeps your claim alive.

Moisture and quality checks

Good pellets stay below. 10% moisture and break with a clean snap. A pellet that crumbles by hand, swells, or smells musty has taken on water. A moisture meter for pellets costs far less than one bad load. See why in our moisture guide.

Claims: what to do if something is wrong

• Report it to the seller in writing the same day, with photos and the delivery note.
• Keep sealed samples from the affected pallets.
• Do not burn or resell the disputed goods until the claim is settled.
• Ask the seller for the producer’s batch number so the lab can trace it.

For an overview of common mistakes, read 7 costly pellet-buying mistakes.

Order a truckload from us.

We ship biomass across Europe from Brežany. Tell us the product, quantity, delivery address, and unloading equipment, and we will quote the load. Start with ENplus A1 pellets or industrial DIN pellets.

FAQ

How many pallets fit on one truck?

About 22 pallets of pellets at about 1 tonne each. Always confirm with the seller, since pallet weight differs by product.

Is bulk cheaper than bagged?

Per tonne, loose bulk is usually cheaper, but it needs a silo or storage room that a blower truck can reach.

Who pays for damage in transport?

It depends on the delivery terms in your order. Note all damage on the delivery note at unloading so the claim is valid.