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When To Pick a Hand Pallet Jack, Walkie Pallet Jack or Rider Pallet Jack

You have options when selecting a pallet jack. Contact an equipment specialist to learn the best equipment for your facility! CONTACT PROLIFT

Many companies use one of the various forms of pallet jacks (manual, powered walk-behind or powered ride-on) to move product horizontally throughout their facility. Some of the factors that influence their decision include workers comp claims, operator fatigue, productivity and product damage. Knowing the distance traveled by the operator and restrictions of the application will also help you select the right equipment.

Hand Pallet Jack

The hand pallet jack has no power and requires manual pushing and pulling. It is ideal for distances under 40 feet and does not require an operator to attend OSHA compliant training.

Unless the movement of product happens at a very low frequency, maybe once an hour, someone shouldn’t expect operators to move loads greater than 2,000 lbs with a manual pallet jack. One back injury can be many times more than the expense of a powered pallet jack.

Walkie Pallet Jack

A powered electric pallet jack that you walk behind (“walkies”) is helpful when operator fatigue is a concern. Although the equipment moves at the same pace of the operator, it does not slow down with longer distances or excessive usage.

Walkie pallet jacks are ideal for distances 40-100 feet and are often found in the back of stores, small manufacturing with low volume and delivery trucks. Customers purchasing walkie pallet jacks often need few features but require a powered unit for one of the many reasons described above.

Rider Pallet Jack

If your application requires frequent use or longer travel distances, the rider pallet jack can help reduce operator fatigue and increases safety. With travel speeds of about 8 mph it is more than two times faster than a walking pace.

Found often in warehouses and distribution centers with higher volume, this equipment can be used for low lever order picking. With a relatively low acquisition cost, if you are only looking for horizontal movement, it can be an economical replacement for a standard forklift.

Our equipment specialists are available to answer your questions and help you select the best equipment. Schedule an onsite visit for a complimentary quote!

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