According to one aspect of the invention, a shipping container with an
integrated pallet has a narrow width adapted for maximum utilization of
the available space in standard sea containers, and openings for the
tines of a forklift are spaced so that adjustment of the tines is not
necessary in order to fit the narrower container. The container has an
open top, opposite end walls, opposite sidewalls, and a bottom wall. The
pallet is attached on top of the bottom wall and comprises a pallet deck,
with runners secured between the deck and the bottom wall in inwardly
spaced relation to the side edges of the container so that the runners
are located inside the fork footprint rather than outside the fork
footprint. The tine-receiving openings are thus positioned outboard of
the runners and under opposite side edges of the container. The opposite
side edges of the container between the pallet deck and the bottom wall
are reinforced by down-turned flanges on the pallet deck that are secured
to an inner surface of the sidewalls. According to another aspect of the
invention, confronting flaps form inner wall panels in the sidewalls or
the end walls of a container, and interlocking structure on confronting
edges of the flaps lock them together to resist separation thereof.