Mitchell Storage and Distribution Ltd

Pallet trucks are useful tools for  moving goods and transporting pallets around areas such as factories and  warehouses. You can either use a manual pallet truck, which is simple to  operate, or a powered pallet truck which is useful for heavier loads and stacks  of crates. This generally requires some basic training and passing of tests  (including a  theoretical test, pre-use checks and a practical test), to  operate it; this training should be provided by the company the operator is  working for. If you are looking to buy a pallet truck online then it is helpful  to have a basic understanding of how pallet trucks work and some information  about the different types. Once you are familiar with the options available you  can choose a pallet truck suitable for the job that you will be doing. Below is a list of  different types of manual pallet trucks.

A Regular Pallet Truck is the most standard and preferred product on the  pallet truck market. It is designed to transport heavy loads with minimum  exertion. It is simple to work; the two forks are inserted into the pallet or  underneath the goods that are being transported. There is a Jack which then  raises the load off the floor, making it easy to move around and is steered  with a handle. Three ton and five ton hand pallet trucks are  heavy-duty pallet trucks suitable for general warehouse and transportation uses.

  Low Profile and Special Size Pallet Trucks are basically  the same as the regular pallet trucks however they are designed to lift very  low pallets and crates or certain heavy equipment and furniture.

If goods are required to be moved  around tight corners, through narrow spaces, or stored in difficult spaces then  a Directional Pallet Truck can be used. This is a manual pallet truck which can  be made to operate in four directions without a longwinded adjustment process.

Sometimes it is necessary to know the weight of  goods being moved around and in this case a Weighing Scales Pallet truck is  useful, its battery powered scales will weigh the goods as they are lifted by  the truck. 

Rough Terrain Pallet Trucks are designed to be used  outside in places such as building sites where a regular pallet truck would  struggle with the terrain, for example on rough, bumpy ground.

If the pallet trucks are being used in the food industry, cold rooms and  clean rooms or in an environment where corrosive acids or saline solutions are  used then it may be necessary to use Galvanised and Stainless Steel Pallet  Trucks. They are protected from substances and the environment so that they do  not corrode.

If cylindrical goods such as rolls of carpet or  paper reels are being transported, then a Reel Carrying Pallet Truck will be  used. This is basically the same as a regular pallet truck except the forks are  designed to fit into cylindrical loads.

You can also get manual pallet trucks with  breaks. There are two types of breaks available; hand brakes in the style of  bike brakes (the brake is applied when a trigger is pulled) or dead man brake  (the brake is released when trigger is pulled).

If you are transporting a more  demanding load then you may have to think about getting a Powered Pallet Truck.  These incorporate a platform for the operator to stand on and are powered by a  motor to give them more power than a manual pallet truck.

Not only should you consider the different  varieties of pallet trucks themselves but there are also some specific features  that you think about before you select your product; the weight of the goods  that you are lifting will determine whether you need a manual or powered pallet  truck. You also need to consider the fork size – dependent on the size of the  pallets being moved and the degree of turning necessary for the area that you  will be working in.