Manual pallet jacks

Manual pallet jacks are mechanical devices which are also known as pump trucks, pallet trucks, and are used to lift/raise and move around pallets.  Pallet jack trucks belong in a larger category of equipment known as material handling equipment. 

Pallet jack trucks come in various different sizes and offer various lifting capacities.  These devices are generally very straightforward and can also be serviced by the end user.  Manual pallet jack trucks generally have a set of wheels mounted on the inside of a pair of forks, and these wheels help transport your pallet goods around the warehouse.  The pallet jack usually has a set of wheels at the front of the unit which steers the unit around.  Typically people pull pallet jacks rather than push them around, for ease of steering.  Pallet jack forks are normally 7” wide each, and are about 20” apart.  One of the most common sized pallets is 40” x 48”.

A hydraulic jack unit is built into the pallet jack unit.  This hydraulic unit allows you to lift items which would be too heavy to normally lift by hand.  The pallet is lifted just high enough off the ground, in order to move the goods from point A to point B.  There are no advantages to lifting the goods any higher.  Raising your pallet too high can cause an unsafe condition when your center of gravity is abnormally high.  The jack device normally uses hydraulic fluid to apply a large amount of linear vertical force on the pallet jack.  Keeping your hydraulic unit properly serviced is essential if you want to minimize the amount of potential downtime.  You can purchase pallet jack parts over the Internet, if you wish to perform your own maintenance.  The two most common issues with manual pallet jacks include worn/leaking hydraulics, along with worn out wheels.  By purchasing replacement parts you can greatly extend the life of your pallet truck unit.

Some of the more popular companies which make pallet jack equipment include Crown, global industrial, Yale, etc.

In larger warehouses it is common to use electric pallet trucks for greater efficiency. These units will cost more, however they can do the job much faster. There are various terms for electric units including electric pallet jacks, walkies, etc. There are various different types of specialty forklift trucks for various applications such as narrow aisle, cherry picker, counterweight balanced, forklift trucks. Many companies also offer in house financing which is helpful if you are purchasing a large number of material handling trucks. It is also common for some companies to outsource the MRO of pallet jacks as well.