WPA Message to Members
to
Members
WPA members and friends,
Glenn
Glenn Meeks
Executive Vice President
Western Pallet Association
As we move into the second half of 2026, one thing is clear: the pallet industry is not facing one single operating reality. Business conditions vary sharply by region, customer base, labor market, lumber exposure, and regulatory environment.
Some companies are investing and expanding. Others are navigating uncertainty in pallet/quality and customers making short-term buying decisions with long-term consequences.
That makes planning more difficult. It also makes discipline more important.
The companies best positioned for the months ahead are not the ones grinding it out the hardest. This industry has never lacked hard work. The advantage will belong to companies that see clearly, act quickly, and reduce friction inside their own operations.
That means better visibility into their companies and understanding the motivation behind customer expectations. It means using tools like market data and AI to turn information into better decisions. It means protecting customer relationships without drifting into a race to the bottom on price paved with nickels and dimes.
This is also where WPA matters. Staying connected, understanding the implications of new policies, and real business leadership are not a luxury in this environment. It is part of how we stay steady. The issues affecting pallet businesses (labor, regulation, trade, customer expectations, and margin pressure) do not go away and do not solve themselves.
Our job as your trade association is to educate members, share what’s working, and strengthen the industry’s future as an asset in the supply chain. Your job as leaders is to stay engaged, ask questions, and keep recalibrating as conditions change.
The second half of the year will reward visibility, smart decision-making, and execution. The WPA will continue working to support members on all three.
6 WESTERN PALLET