Pallet Jacks are the heart and soul of many of our warehouses and business. Without our pallet jacks, we could only get half the work done in double the time with triple the worker fatigue.  Pallet Jacks, also known as Pallet Trucks, Walkies, Hand Trucks, or HPTs (hand pallet trucks), are a growing in popularity as the push for instant replenishment and shipping increases. 

Use:
Pallet Jacks are a piece of equipment used to lift and move palletized loads from one point to another in settings such as shipping, receiving, warehouses, and industrial areas. Manual Pallet Jacks use human-power to move and lift a load on hard surfaces like wood, concrete, asphalt. Electric Pallet Jacks (Walkie) uses battery power to move and lift with little to no human effort.

Types:
Manual:
The Manual Pallet Jack is solely human-power. When hauling heavier loads there is increased exertion from the operator, making it better suited for short runs and quick jobs. It is an economical option whose size makes it highly versatile and ergonomic without any added electrical wiring or battery maintenance. It is ideal for retail, cold storage, and general warehousing industries.

What to consider when you are picking out your Pallet Jack:
1) Environment
Talk with your Forklift Dealer about how and where you are going to be using your pallet truck. Depending on the type of environment, they may recommend options such as corrosion resistant metal for humid refrigerator environments or non-sparking tires for areas where combustible gases are present.

2) Length
You do not want to purchase a pallet jack that is the wrong length. Fork length and width refers to how wide or long the forks on the pallet jack are from the outermost part of each side of the jack. The most common fork size is 27×48” and the most common size of wood pallets is 40×48”. For pallets that are 40” long, you should be using a pallet jack with forks that are 27” wide. Whether it is too short or too long can affect what your pallet jack load size.

Hand Pallet Truck - CBY

3) Capacity
It is very important that you buy a pallet jack that is equipped to carry the items that you transport. Not all pallet jacks have the same maximum capacity. Pallet jack capacities can range from anywhere between 4,500 lbs. and 5,500 lbs. Even some heavy-duty models are equipped to hold loads that exceed 5,500 lbs.

4) Weight
Take into account the base weight of the unit when purchasing. When you move a pallet with your pallet jack you are not just moving the weight of the pallet, but the weight of the pallet and pallet jack combined. Because of this, you have to be sure that the combined weight of your pallets and pallet jack can be supported by the surfaces that you will be carrying your pallet jack over like container floors or vehicle trays. If you buy a pallet jack that makes your loads too heavy because of their base weight, you can damage parts of your warehouse or other equipment when transporting them.

5) Lift Height
The lift height is how high the forks on the pallet jack can be lifted. The standard height is 3” at the lowest point up to a maximum of 7 ¾”. You can also use low profile models that go lower than the standard height for pallets that sit at lower heights. While some pallet jacks can lift higher than others it is important to make sure that your pallet jack can safely lift the weight of your pallets to the desired heights. Once raised to a certain point pallet jacks can tip if they are holding too much weight at certain heights.

6) Wheels
Wheels provide easy and safe maneuvering throughout your warehouse. Making sure you have the right wheels on your pallet jack is important to make sure that your pallets are making it from point A to point B easily and safely. Choosing wheels that are made of the wrong material can cause lasting damage to your floors, warehouse, and personnel depending on the warehouse environment.

Renting:
Whether you are expanding or have a temporary increase in product demand, you will need the right equipment to get the job done. Buying equipment that you might not need year round is not always the answer. Renting a Manual or Walkie can expand your productivity while keeping your equipment storage, insurance, depreciation, maintenance, and tax costs down. Talk with your material handling reprehensive to find out if renting a Pallet Jack is right for your company’s current needs.

Renting also allows you access to the newest equipment available on the market. Renting is a great way to try before you pick the model you want to buy.

Safety:
When using your pallet jack, safety should always be your number one priority. Maintaining a high level of safety can become complicated when customers or an excess of employees are near a pallet truck route. When your equipment is in an area where pedestrians are present, you and your operators must take extra precautions. There are a number of safety precautions and that you should keep in mind while operating your pallet jack.

• Do not place your feet under the jack.
• Do not exceed the maximum listed capacity.
• Always use proper lifting measures when loading or off-loading the pallet jack.
• Never pull the load, always push the load.
• Proceed down an incline go in reverse.
• Mark your route to avoid pinch points that may cause injuries.
• NEVER leave your material handling equipment unattended around customers.
• Come up with alternative pallet jack routes for use during busy pedestrian traffic times to help reduce the risk of pedestrian injury.
• Ensure that your employees are the only ones using the pallet jack. One way to ensure this is to have a restricted access to your material handling equipment.
• Train and certify all your warehouse personnel to operate the pallet trucks. Training helps reduce injury and maintains OSHA compliance.