What are the uses and benefits of ride on pallet trucks

There are many different types of equipment and machinery designed to help you run your business smoothly. At times understanding what equipment you require to be able to safely lift, transfer and store goods can be a little confusing and sometimes overwhelming.

How can you move the boxes and the pallets safely? How do you move and store multiple pallets? The ride-on pallet truck is a popular piece of machinery in the warehouse environment. Below we explore exactly what a pallet truck is, where a pallet truck can be used, the benefits of using a pallet truck, if any special training is needed to operate a pallet truck and we look at EP's range of pallet trucks.

What Is A Pallet Truck?

The pallet truck is also known as the pallet jack, the pallet stacker and the pallet lift. It is, as the name suggests, a truck that transports and lifts pallets. The pallets are lifted by a long tapered fork placed below the pallet, allowing it to be moved, lifted and transported to where it is needed. This is achieved by user operation.

What is important to note is that every pallet truck comes with its own weight restrictions. So it's critical to choose the right pallet truck for your unique needs. You should never surpass the maximum weight, because not only could this damage the pallet truck, but it could also potentially jeopardise the health and safety of your workers and the working environment.

Pallet trucks are designed to ease the workload, make transporting and stacking pallets easier for workers, while also saving a lot of time and improving productivity.

The Ride On Pallet Truck 

A electric ride on pallet truck is operated by someone standing on the platform at the rear of the truck. This allows the operator to drive it to where it needs to be via a steering wheel, a button or a lever. It is designed to travel longer distances than a walk behind pallet truck. This is because the operator can move and navigate the pallet truck easily across a large floor area. The ride-on pallet truck is also the best type for loading pallets into a HGV. Ride on pallet trucks often come with folding platforms that allow them to operate as a narrow walkie pallet truck when needed.

How Pallet Trucks Can Benefit Your Warehouse Operations? 

Pallet trucks are primarily used in warehouse environments to transport pallets from one location to another. They can move pallets from a storage area or warehouse to a waiting truck with ease. They can lift pallets to a certain height and can lift multiple pallets at any time.

They are especially useful in the warehouse because they are smaller than a forklift truck, which means that they are able to be used in smaller and narrow spaces, unlike a forklift. Electric ride-on pallets are also safe to use in indoor warehouse environments, as no harmful emissions are produced.

What Industries Might Benefit From Pallet Trucks?

There are so many industries that benefit from using pallet trucks. These industries include the manufacturing industry, the retail store, on the factory floor, the food service industry and chemical factories.

What Are The Advantages Of A Ride-On Pallet Truck Over A Manual One?

The manual pallet truck is operated by means of a handle that lifts and lowers the fork. This type of pallet truck is normally used to lift small quantities of pallets, or in a small warehouse. The ride-on pallet truck is far superior as it can cover a larger distance, lift heavier weights, so many more pallets can be lifted at any one time, and reach higher than a manual pallet truck. So if you need to move and stack large quantities of pallets in a large warehouse environment then you really need a ride-on pallet truck to do that job for you.

What Training Is Needed To Operate A Ride-On Pallet Truck?

Any employee who operates a ride-on pallet truck will need the training to do so safely. This training needs to comply with the safety standards set by PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) plus following the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L117, that is aimed at those who are involved in any type of lift truck operation, including site operators of rice on pellet trucks. Employees should be given basic training in how to operate the ride-on pallet truck, and how to do specific work-related tasks in the warehouse environment while using the pallet truck.