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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
