Under four pallets, no — they ship LTL freight with a liftgate and get set down curbside in your driveway, no equipment required on your end. Four pallets or more ship flatbed, and flatbed deliveries generally do need a forklift or skid steer on-site to unload, since there's no liftgate on that truck.
This trips people up because "pallet" sounds like one unit, but how it gets off the truck depends entirely on order size. Here's what actually happens at each stage, with the numbers.
How does Beach Pebbles Direct ship pallets?
Every order ships by the pallet — one pallet minimum, no exceptions. The shipping method is set by how many pallets you order:
- 1–3 pallets: LTL (less-than-truckload) freight, delivered with a liftgate and set down curbside.
- 4+ pallets: Flatbed truck, no liftgate — you'll need equipment to get pallets off the trailer.
Most homeowners land in the 1–3 pallet range and never touch a forklift. Contractors and larger jobs are the ones who cross into flatbed territory, and that's worth planning for before the truck shows up.
What happens during LTL curbside delivery?
The freight truck has a liftgate built in, so the driver lowers each pallet to the ground at the curb or the end of your driveway — wherever the truck can safely park. That's the full extent of the driver's job. Getting pallets from the curb to their final spot in the yard, and getting the stone off the pallet and into place, is on you.
For a 1.5-ton pallet of Mexican Beach Pebbles ($1,192.50/pallet at current pricing), most homeowners break it down with a wheelbarrow and shovel over a weekend. It's manual labor, but it doesn't require machinery.
Do I need a forklift for a flatbed delivery?
Yes, in almost every case. Flatbed trucks don't have a liftgate, so the pallets sit up on the trailer bed and something has to lift them down — a forklift, a skid steer with pallet forks, or a similar piece of equipment capable of handling 1.4–1.5 tons per pallet. Some flatbed carriers offer a boom or moffett (truck-mounted forklift) for an added fee, but that's not guaranteed on every load and it's worth confirming at the time you request your quote.
Landscaping contractors ordering four or more pallets for a commercial job usually already have a skid steer on-site, so this isn't a new problem for them. If you're a homeowner placing a large order and don't have access to equipment, say so when you request your quote at beachpebblesdirect.com/pages/request-a-quote and we'll talk through options, including splitting the order into a smaller LTL shipment instead.
How much does each pallet actually weigh?
Pallet weight depends on the stone:
- 1.5-ton pallets (3,000 lbs.) — covers roughly 150 sq. ft. at the standard 2-inch installed depth. This includes Mexican Beach Pebbles, Diamond White, Snow White, Mini Mixed, Mixed, and Salt and Pepper.
- 1.4-ton pallets (2,800 lbs.) — covers roughly 140 sq. ft. at 2 inches deep. This includes Polished Black, Super Polished Black, and Tiger Striped.
That weight is exactly why a standard pickup-truck ramp or a couple of guys lifting a pallet by hand isn't an option for a flatbed load — it takes real equipment rated for that kind of weight.
What if I don't have a forklift or skid steer?
You've got a few paths. Some options to raise with us at quote time:
- Rent a skid steer or forklift for delivery day — most equipment rental yards in Florida can supply one for a half-day.
- Ask a local landscaper or hardscape contractor if they can unload on your behalf; many will do this for a flat fee.
- Keep your order under four pallets so it ships LTL with curbside liftgate drop-off instead of flatbed.
- Ask about moffett/boom-equipped flatbed service when you request your quote — availability varies by lane and isn't guaranteed everywhere.
Does ordering more pallets change the price too?
Yes — volume pricing kicks in above three pallets, so a larger order that requires flatbed delivery also tends to come with a lower per-pallet cost. For example, a pallet of Salt and Pepper pebbles runs $1,425 at standard pricing before volume discounts apply. Exact volume pricing depends on the color and quantity, so it's easiest to get the real number by requesting a quote rather than estimating.
How do I pay and schedule delivery?
There's no online checkout on the site — everything runs through a quote and invoice. Request a quote at beachpebblesdirect.com/pages/request-a-quote or call 904-685-9550 (calls only — this line doesn't take texts), and we'll confirm your color, pallet count, shipping method, and delivery window before you're invoiced. That's also the point to flag whether you have equipment on-site for a flatbed order, or need us to help you plan around that.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a forklift for one pallet?
No. One to three pallets ship LTL with a liftgate, so the driver lowers it to the ground for you.
What's the cutoff between LTL and flatbed?
Under four pallets ships LTL with curbside liftgate unloading. Four or more ships flatbed, which generally requires a forklift or skid steer on your end.
Can I request a smaller flatbed order to avoid needing equipment?
Yes — if you don't have access to a forklift or skid steer, ordering three pallets or fewer keeps your delivery on LTL freight with liftgate drop-off.
How much does a pallet of beach pebbles weigh?
1.5-ton pallets weigh 3,000 lbs. and cover about 150 sq. ft. at 2 inches deep. 1.4-ton pallets weigh 2,800 lbs. and cover about 140 sq. ft. at 2 inches deep.
Beach Pebbles Direct has been supplying bulk decorative stone from our Jacksonville (7643 Gate Parkway) and Miami yards since 2016. Call 904-685-9550 or request a quote for next-day delivery across most of Florida.