In the warehousing industry, pallet jacks are a common piece of equipment that is pretty hard to go without. You’ll likely have tons of them around your facility. However, depending on what you need them for, there’s a good chance that you’ll need a few different kinds that your employees can utilize. That’s why we’ve created this list of tips for choosing the right pallet jack for your application. That way, all your processes can be as streamlined as possible.
Consider the Size of the Products You’re Moving
One factor to consider when buying a new set of pallet jacks is the size of the cargo your team will be moving around the warehouse. If the pallets are either larger or smaller than the standard, you’ll need to make sure that your jacks have forks with the proper amount of space to accommodate them.
While this isn’t a common issue, it’s still something that you should note. Just be careful not to buy one that’s too large because it’ll make maneuvering around the facility much more difficult.
Of course, the more critical factor to consider is weight. While pallet jacks with lighter frames are easier to move around, they might not be able to withstand higher load capacities. That’s why it’s good to have some heavy-duty pallet jacks for those abnormally hefty loads.
Determine Where They’ll Be Transporting Items To
Another vital tip for choosing the right pallet jack for your application is to consider where the products are going. If the pallet jack’s purpose is to move products to new locations within your warehouse, it might be worth investing in some electric-powered jacks. This puts less strain on your workers, and the route will run more efficiently.
On the other hand, if these devices are primarily used to move products onto a truck for shipment, you should consider buying a set of pallet jacks with built-in scales. Since the amount of weight a semi will have on it is a crucial detail to know, combining the two steps will save a lot of time and effort.
Figure Out How Often They’ll Get Used
The final consideration that you’ll have to make is how often your employees will have to use each type of pallet jack. For example, if you rarely have overweight pallets, you won’t need a fleet of 20 heavy-duty pallet jacks. You could probably get away with one or two.
Regardless of which kind you’re considering buying, the key is not to purchase too many or too few of them. Determining the exact number you require will help you reach peak efficiency with your pallet jacks.