A carrier tape has a central portion, and first and second rows of device pockets and dummy pockets. The device pockets are smaller in size than the dummy pockets. The pockets in each of the first and second rows are vertically aligned and are separated vertically from each other by an equal distance. Vertically aligned and adjacent pockets may be horizontally separated relative to each other by a constant dimension, a regularly or irregularly increasing or decreasing dimension, or both a regularly or irregularly increasing or decreasing dimension. Vertically aligned and adjacent pockets may also vary in positioning relative to an upper edge of the carrier tape in an increasing or decreasing regular or irregular dimension or both. The carrier tape may be layered on a reel during transportation.