A method for charging pallet cars of a traveling grate for the thermal treatment of bulk material includes in a first step a first layer is applied as a hearth layer on a grate surface of the pallet car. In at least one second step a second layer at the same time or successively is applied as a side layer on two opposed side walls of the pallet car and a third layer is applied as green pellet layer between the side layers and on the hearth layer. The pellets used for the grate and the side layer differ in terms of their diameter and size distribution.