Our Story
From a small lot and a big idea to Central California's most sustainable pallet company.
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The Problem That Started It All
Bakersfield Pallet Co. was born out of a simple observation: too many good pallets were ending up in dumpsters and landfills. Garrett Caldwell saw stacks of reusable pallets behind warehouses and grocery stores, waiting to be hauled to the dump, and knew there had to be a better way. Together with Oakley Thorne, who now serves as Operations Manager, they built the company from the ground up.
Before founding the company, Garrett spent over a decade working in logistics and supply chain management across the Central Valley. He managed warehouse operations for agricultural distributors, coordinated freight for manufacturing companies, and saw firsthand how the pallet supply chain worked — and where it failed. The inefficiency that frustrated him most was the treatment of pallets as disposable.
The numbers were staggering. The United States uses approximately 2 billion pallets per year. Of those, an estimated 400 million end up in landfills annually. In Kern County alone, thousands of tons of pallet wood were being discarded every year — wood that was perfectly reusable with basic inspection and minor repair. Garrett saw a business opportunity embedded in an environmental problem, and he decided to act on it.
In early 2015, with personal savings, a small business loan, and more determination than equipment, Garrett leased a lot on the outskirts of Bakersfield and began collecting pallets. He drove his used flatbed truck to warehouses, farms, and distribution centers, offering to haul away their surplus pallets for free. Most businesses were happy to get rid of them — they were already paying disposal fees. What they did not realize was that the pallets they considered waste were actually a valuable resource waiting to be put back to work.
Challenges We Overcame
Starting from Scratch
The early days were anything but glamorous. Garrett inspected every pallet by hand, made repairs with basic tools, and delivered orders in his personal truck. There was no inventory management system, no grading process, no delivery fleet — just hard work and a clear vision. Cash flow was tight, and there were months where the business barely broke even. But every pallet saved from the landfill reinforced the conviction that this was worth doing.
Building Trust in a Skeptical Market
Used pallets had a reputation problem. Many buyers associated them with unreliable quality — inconsistent sizes, hidden damage, and the uncertainty of not knowing what you were getting. Garrett knew that overcoming this perception would require radical transparency. That is why Bakersfield Pallet Co. developed its rigorous 12-point inspection and three-tier grading system. When a customer orders Grade A pallets, they know exactly what they are receiving. This consistency is what turned skeptical first-time buyers into loyal long-term clients.
Navigating the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic created the most challenging operating environment in the company's history. New pallet prices doubled almost overnight as lumber costs surged. At the same time, demand for pallets increased dramatically as supply chains scrambled to keep goods moving. Many pallet suppliers simply could not keep up. Bakersfield Pallet Co. ran double shifts, expanded its sourcing network, and prioritized the local businesses that depended on a reliable pallet supply. The team worked through the uncertainty together, and the loyalty earned during that period continues to define many of the company's most valued client relationships.
Scaling Without Losing Quality
Growing from 200 pallets per month to over 4,000 pallets per month while maintaining the same quality standards required constant investment in people, processes, and equipment. Every time volume increased, Oakley and the operations team had to re-evaluate workflows, add capacity, and train new team members. The commitment to quality has never wavered — and that is by design. Garrett understood early on that the fastest way to lose customers in the pallet business is to let quality slip, even once. That mindset is embedded in the culture of the company.
Our Journey Year by Year
The Beginning
Garrett Caldwell started Bakersfield Pallet Co. with a small leased lot on the outskirts of Bakersfield, a used flatbed truck, and a conviction that the pallet industry could do better. The first month, working mostly alone, he processed 200 pallets — collecting surplus stock from local warehouses, inspecting each one by hand, and reselling the viable ones to small businesses around town. Revenue that first month barely covered the lot lease, but the concept proved itself: there was demand for affordable, quality used pallets, and there was a massive supply of reusable pallets heading needlessly to the landfill.
Building the Foundation
With a growing customer list and more pallets coming in than one person could handle, Garrett brought on his first employees. Oakley Thorne, who now serves as Operations Manager, was among the first hires. Together, they established the company's initial processes for intake, inspection, and grading. They partnered with local grocery distribution centers, warehouses, and manufacturers to create a steady supply pipeline. By the end of 2016, monthly volume had quadrupled and the company had its first repeat customers.
Growing Roots
The leased lot was no longer big enough. Bakersfield Pallet Co. moved to a dedicated 2-acre facility on Industrial Boulevard with proper infrastructure for large-scale pallet operations. The new location had room for organized storage, a repair area, and loading docks. The company acquired its first forklift, invested in pneumatic nail guns and repair tools, and hired its third full-time employee. Monthly volume reached 2,000 pallets, and the customer base expanded to include agricultural operations throughout Kern County.
Quality Standards
Recognizing that buyers needed confidence in what they were purchasing, Garrett and Oakley developed the company's formal inspection and grading system. The 12-point inspection process was established, and pallets were categorized into Grade A (premium), Grade B (standard), and Grade C (economy). This transparent grading system became a key differentiator, giving customers clear expectations and consistent quality. The company also began offering bulk pricing tiers and started building its first dedicated client accounts for recurring orders.
Heat Treatment Certification
The company invested in an ISPM-15 certified heat treatment kiln, opening the door to the agricultural export market. Kern County is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the United States, and many growers and packers need heat-treated pallets for international shipments of produce, nuts, and other commodities. The kiln allowed Bakersfield Pallet Co. to serve this high-value market segment for the first time. Annual volume climbed to over 30,000 pallets.
Weathering the Storm
The pandemic disrupted global supply chains, and the pallet industry felt it acutely. New pallet prices surged as lumber costs skyrocketed, and many businesses struggled to find pallets at any price. Bakersfield Pallet Co. stepped up, running double shifts to maximize output and prioritizing local businesses that depended on a steady pallet supply. The team grew through the crisis, and the company earned lasting loyalty from clients who remembered that Bakersfield Pallet was there when they needed it most.
Sustainability Leadership
Wren Castellano joined the team as Sustainability Director, bringing formal environmental science expertise to the company's already eco-conscious operations. Under her leadership, Bakersfield Pallet Co. implemented carbon tracking protocols, established zero-waste processing goals, and developed partnerships with environmental organizations. The company began publishing annual sustainability metrics and set a target of 95% landfill diversion — a goal it would achieve within the year.
The 50K Milestone
Bakersfield Pallet Co. reached a major milestone: 50,000 pallets processed in a single year. The company expanded its inventory to include plastic and composite pallets alongside its core wood pallet offerings. A dedicated logistics fleet was added, consisting of multiple flatbed trucks for local delivery. The facility underwent upgrades including improved repair stations, expanded storage capacity, and a more efficient yard layout designed for higher throughput.
Buy-Back & Fulfillment
The company launched its pallet buy-back program, creating a closed-loop system where businesses could sell their surplus pallets back to Bakersfield Pallet Co. for cash. Beckett Harmon joined the team as Fulfillment Lead, bringing logistics expertise that streamlined the delivery operation. Delivery coverage expanded to all of Kern County, and the company began offering same-day delivery for standard in-stock orders within the Bakersfield metro area.
Regional Expansion
Bakersfield Pallet Co. surpassed 500 active business clients for the first time. Delivery routes expanded beyond Kern County to include weekly runs to Fresno, Visalia, Tulare, and other Central Valley cities. The company began accepting custom pallet orders for non-standard sizes and specifications. Planning began for a potential facility expansion to accommodate growing demand.
A Decade of Impact
Celebrating 10 years of operation, Bakersfield Pallet Co. continues to grow while staying true to its founding mission. The company is investing in facility upgrades, evaluating new pallet material technologies, and deepening its commitment to sustainability and community involvement. What started as one person's vision for a better pallet industry has become a thriving business that proves environmental responsibility and profitability go hand in hand.
The Team That Built This
Bakersfield Pallet Co. is not just Garrett's story — it is the story of every person who has contributed to building this company over the past decade.
Garrett Caldwell
Founder & CEO
Garrett's background in Central Valley logistics gave him the industry knowledge to identify the opportunity, and his work ethic built the company from the ground up. He continues to lead the business with a focus on long-term growth, client relationships, and environmental impact. Garrett is known for personally visiting new clients to understand their operations and pallet needs, a practice he started in 2015 and maintains to this day.
Oakley Thorne
Operations Manager
Oakley was Garrett's first real hire and has been the operational backbone of the company since 2016. He designed the 12-point inspection process, built the repair team from scratch, and manages the day-to-day flow of pallets through the facility. His eye for efficiency and quality control has been instrumental in scaling the business without sacrificing the standards that clients depend on.
Wren Castellano
Sustainability Director
Wren brought formal environmental science credentials to a company that was already doing the right thing instinctively. Since joining in 2021, she has formalized the sustainability program, implemented carbon tracking, and built partnerships that extend the company's environmental impact beyond its own operations. Her goal is to make Bakersfield Pallet Co. a model for what sustainable industrial operations can look like.
Beckett Harmon
Fulfillment Lead
Beckett joined in 2023 to professionalize the delivery and fulfillment operation. His background in warehouse management and fleet logistics brought structure and efficiency to a part of the business that was growing fast. Under his leadership, on-time delivery rates exceed 98%, and the company has expanded its geographic coverage while reducing per-delivery fuel costs through route optimization.
Our Vision for the Future
Ten years in, Bakersfield Pallet Co. is just getting started. The pallet industry is evolving, and we intend to be at the forefront of that evolution. Here is what we are working toward:
Facility Expansion
We are evaluating options to expand our current facility or establish a second location to meet growing demand. The goal is to increase our processing capacity to 100,000 pallets per year within the next three years, allowing us to serve more businesses across a wider geographic area while maintaining the same quality and turnaround times our customers expect.
Technology Investment
We are exploring automated inspection systems, digital inventory management platforms, and fleet tracking technology to improve efficiency and provide customers with real-time visibility into their orders. The pallet industry has been slow to adopt technology, and we see an opportunity to lead that modernization.
Material Innovation
As the industry evolves, so do the materials. We are evaluating composite and engineered wood pallets that offer improved durability and recyclability. Our goal is to offer customers the widest range of pallet options available, with honest guidance on which material is the best fit for their specific application and budget.
Deeper Sustainability
Our current 95% landfill diversion rate is strong, but we are pushing toward 98%. We are also working toward a fully closed-loop water system for cleaning operations, evaluating solar power for our facility, and exploring carbon offset partnerships that would allow our customers to quantify the environmental benefit of choosing recycled pallets.
Regional Growth
We are expanding our delivery network to cover a broader portion of California. In addition to our established Kern County and Central Valley routes, we are developing service capabilities for the Los Angeles basin, the Inland Empire, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Our vision is to be the most trusted pallet partner for businesses across California.
“We started this company because we believed every pallet deserves a second chance — and so does our planet. Ten years later, that belief is stronger than ever. The best is still ahead of us.”
— Garrett Caldwell, Founder
From a single lot to a full-scale operation -- our facility reflects a decade of steady, sustainable growth
A Decade by the Numbers
Total Pallets Processed Since 2015
Tons of Wood Diverted from Landfills
Active Business Clients
On-Time Delivery Rate
Equivalent Trees Preserved Annually
Tons CO2 Reduced Per Year
Team Members
Years in Business