A pallet truck is an extremely versatile, affordable piece of material handling equipment. They’re used in almost every industry where large amounts of inventory are stored, and for good reason. There are, generally, two different types available to warehouse owners: powered and manual trucks.
Powered trucks are ideal for those who want to limit the amount of manual labour their workers are required to do, although manual pallet trucks are exceptionally easy to use and relatively inexpensive when compared to the price of forklift.
Seeing as they’re extremely popular with warehouse owners, it’s important that you know and understand what to look for and things to consider if you’re looking to purchase a pallet truck or even rent a pallet truck.
Does it suit your application?
Although there are only, really, two types of pallet trucks on the market – powered and manual – there are several models out there that have been constructed expertly by several world-renowned manufacturers and so this wide range of choice can be quite overwhelming for warehouse owners who are purchasing a pallet truck or renting a pallet truck for the first time.
Depending on the industry you work in, one type of pallet truck might be more suited to your business than another. Where some are relatively unsophisticated, other pallet trucks offer an impressive range of capabilities, some of which might not be relevant to your individual warehouse needs.
For example, if you work in a hygienic environment or one where corrosive materials are worked with, then you might benefit more so from a pallet truck made from stainless steel. If you’re making deliveries at night then a manual pallet truck would probably be better suited to your needs as they’re exceptionally quiet and would also work well for light movement of goods.
Will it be easy enough for everyone to use?
The design of the handle is very important in terms of ergonomics and ease of use. Everyone needs to be able to operate the equipment and be comfortable in doing so. Older models might not be as ergonomically designed, whereas more advanced models would have been designed more with the user in mind as well as ensuring functionality.
With an ergonomic design, it will also help to ease fatigue on your workers as they won’t have to work as hard to manoeuvre a manual pallet truck. If you want to limit the amount of manual labour they’re doing overall, then a powered pallet truck would be far better suited. Some electric pallet trucks also come equipped with a built-in charger so you won’t have to worry about it running out of battery mid-operation.
Something else to think about is the height of the chassis itself. Where there’s minimal chance that someone will fall from a pallet truck, because that’s not how they’re supposed to be operated, they can run over people’s feet or trip someone up if left in the wrong place or if the operator isn’t fully aware of their surroundings.
Make sure to add some reflective strips to the bottom of the pallet truck so that people can see them far more easily and ensure staff are leaving them in designated locations rather than in the middle of aisles and other spaces.
Ensure the pallet truck is durable
Where you can’t always tell when looking at a pallet truck, you can ask to test drive the truck if you’re wanting to purchase or hire one. This will help to give you an idea of its overall robustness and quality as well as get an idea of user experience and comfortability. While testing it, think about how your workers would benefit from it, asking yourself the following questions:
- Will my employees be able to operate this easily?
- Will my employees be able to operate this comfortably?
- Will my employees benefit more from a powered pallet truck over a manual one?
- Can my stock be manoeuvred adequately using a manual pallet truck or would it require a powered pallet truck?
- Can the pallet truck be easily cleaned?
- Does it feel sturdy?
Pay attention to the wheels
Much like buying a car, it’s important that you look at the wheels as well as the overall machine. Without the right wheels, your employees could have a harder time manoeuvring the pallet truck even without there being a load on it. Once a load is applied, it can then make it even harder to move the truck, especially if the tyres aren’t adequate enough.
Not only should you inspect them to make sure they aren’t damaged (if you’re looking to buy a used pallet truck), but you should also ask questions about the material the tyres are made from if you’re looking to purchase a new pallet truck. For example:
- Nylon tyres have low rolling resistance and minimal steering effort
- Rubber tyres run quietly and have optimum traction on the ground
- Polyurethane tyres are also quiet and makes it easier for the truck to manoeuvre
It’s also important to note that single load wheels can be used universally, thus making them ideal for transporting generic pallets. Tandem wheels, however, would be a far better choice if you have uneven surfaces throughout your warehouse or if you have perimeter-based pallets that need to be moved.
Multy Lift are able to provide customers throughout the UK with high-calibre new warehouse equipment and used material handling equipment, including powered pallet trucks and manual pallet trucks. Whether you’re looking to purchase a brand new machine, a used alternative or hire a pallet truck, you’ll be able to count on us to help. We’re also pleased to be able to offer new and used forklifts if a pallet truck doesn’t quite suit your operations. For more information about how we can help you today, get in touch with a member of our professional, knowledgeable team – we’re always happy to hear from you.