What are pallet trucks?

Pallet trucks are wheeled trolleys designed to manoeuvre and lift heavy loads safely in warehouses, distribution centres, and for moving pallets onto and off vehicles. They are best suited for short distances and hard-standing ground, pallet trucks are effective for loading and unloading of pallets and bulk packaging.

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There are in general 2 types of pallet trucks; manual and electric. Manual pallet trucks are completely hand-operated and electric pallet trucks have a powered lift mechanism, sometimes with ride-on capabilities. Operating a manual pallet truck requires the user to use force and manoeuvre the forks into a pallet or underneath a skid. The jack on the pallet truck then raises the pallet off the floor to the required height to allow the pallet to be moved safely.

Here are 4 main benefits of using pallet trucks.

1. Pallet trucks are cost efficient

Pallet trucks are a cost-efficient piece of equipment to invest in for warehousing operations. They are not only cheaper to buy and require less maintenance than a forklift, but also there is no additional cost for electricity and gas to keep them running.

2. Pallet trucks are safer than manually handling goods

Many workplace injuries happen whilst handling heavy loads. Some of these injuries can be avoided by using a pallet trucks with the right size and capacity. It's important to choose a pallet truck that can be easily operated by anyone, easy to pull and require little maintenance. If pallet trucks are operated correctly, employees will be safer and they will be less likely to suffer injuries, which will reduce costs related to employee injury.

Obviously, it’s still mandatory to train and use safety briefs when handling heavy equipment, but the risk of injury will be reduced using the pallet trucks, ensuring that all employees have access to safe equipment.

3. Pallet trucks optimise operations

Pallet trucks are suitable for loading and offloading goods to be transported over short distances and can handle various weights.

• Employees can work with less fatigue, allowing them to do more per day
• Employees can save time when loading and unloading
• Heavy goods can be easily handled

4. Pallet trucks are versatile

Pallet trucks are more versatile than forklifts. First, pallet trucks are smaller than forklifts, which means they can manoeuvre around tight spaces and corners more easily. They also come in a variety of different designs, lengths and sizes, making them ideal for a wide range of industries, such as manufacturing plants, specialty and retail stores, factory floors and warehouse facilities.

Advantages of Using Manual Pallet Trucks

Manual pallet trucks are designed to lift and transport pallets from one location to another safely. The need to safely load and unload pallets in workplaces has been recognised since the 19th century. MHA's range of Manual Pallet Trucks have become more prevalent and efficient for workplace and factory use, over the years. 

These days, pallet jacks are one of the most versatile material moving equipment in the industry. These can; 

• Easily move smaller and bigger goods from one location to another. 
• Stack goods on top of another.

As effective methods of handling various heavy goods, these are used in: 

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• Manufacturing plants 
• Specialty and retail stores  
• Factory floors 
• Warehouse facilities

Injury probability is higher in manual pallet trucks than electric ones, since the former are manually operated. Therefore, you should adhere to loading specifications at all times. 

Types of Pallet Trucks

MHA's Pallet Trucks are cheap, and the steering depends on the operator control mechanism. They are suited to warehouses where pallets are stored at ground level. They are best for lifting comparatively small pallet stacks. 

Pallet trucks keep workers safe from injuries. Statistics show that most workplace injuries are due to handling heavy loads which can be avoided with: 

• A few pallet trucks; 
• The right sized trucks; 
• Trucks with the right capacity to safely move goods

Electric/Powered Pallet Jacks

In compariosn to manual Pallet Trucks/Jacks, Powered Pallet Jacks are sophisticated and require experienced operators. These trucks are used extensively in warehouses where pallets are raised and stacked in multiple layers. They are designed for lifting and moving bigger quantities of pallets. Electric pallet trucks require special attention when moving palettes: Up and down inclined surfaces, and through narrow spaces.

Some of MHA's range includes; The Edge Electric Pallet Truck and the electric pallet truck. In addition, pallet trucks with scales come with attached weighing scales that are located on the pallet truck and displays a pallet's weight. 

 Other pallet trucks are high lift pallet trucks, that are designed to: 

• Lift pallets to a safe working height;  
• Reduce injury complaints in the workplace; 
• Greatly assist packing and assembly workers.

Uses of Pallet Trucks

Bigger facilities have both the manual and electric models. In a warehouse, the right material handling equipment is extremely important. Available pallet trucks can easily move loads from 500kg to kg.

Manual pallet trucks are the most commonly used materials handling equipment where single pallets are moved over short distances in small workshops and manufacturing businesses. As mentioned, some pallet trucks come with integrated weighing scales and other accessories. These pallet trucks need to be extremely strong and functional as most carry heavy loads. Preferred in industries that deal with heavyweight equipment such as; retaiul stores, food service industries, warehouses and chemical factories. Usually made from stainless steel, some pallet trucks are galvanised to make them resistant to moisture. These are also used in: laboratories, clean rooms and for handling corrosive material.

Advantages of Using Pallet Trucks

In warehouses or factories, simple tasks such as lifting and organizing goods consume a lot of time. However, with high-quality pallet trucks in various sizes and load handling capacities, time is saved, and heavy goods are efficiently moved and organised.

In a warehouse with not enough space for bigger material handling equipment or forklifts, pallet trucks (also known as walkies or walk behind trucks) come in handy. Their hydraulic system has these features:  can be operated manually or by battery, and include built-in safety features. 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of pallet truck supplier. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.