electric pallet jack

Electric pallet jacks can be a great step up from using standard pallet trucks. Electric pallet jack trucks fill the niche between full size diesel forklifts and regular hand trucks (i.e. manual pallet jacks). Self-propelled electric lift trucks can also reduce fatigue for the pallet jack operator. There are forklifts made for various different purposes because of the different styles of pallet rack shelves and material storage strategies which are used by different companies. In certain warehouse you may also be storing and move your goods without racking. In this case, you will be using forklift clamp trucks (because you will be unloading floor loaded trucks). In some environments you may be stacking your boxes double deep in which case you will need a special machine known as a telescopic forklift.

Some of the well-known brands in the lift truck industry include: Barrett, BT Prime Mover (discontinued), Cat, Clark, Crown, Hyster, Linde-Baker, Mitsubishi, Raymond, Toyota (Walkie), and Yale.

When purchasing an electric pallet jack, here are some of the things which you should take into consideration:

1- Will the lift be used indoors or outdoors? Indoor units typically use cushion wheels due to the fact that they are smoother, and more efficient on smooth ground. Outdoor trucks usually will have large pneumatic tires. Avoid purchasing electric units outdoors as they are not waterproof. If you plan on using your machine outdoors you should consider purchasing an IC (Internal combustion lift truck). Riders are walkies are two very common types of indoor electric pallet jacks. These units are the least expensive because they don't provide any extensive lifting abilities. These machines work great for moving around pallets but you can use them to lift, stack, double stack goods in the warehouse.  For indoor warehouses LPG (i.e. LP gas forklifts can also be a good alternative). 

2- What is your minimum aisle width? Is there enough room for standard 48” forks? If you have a smaller warehouse you may need narrow aisle pallet trucks. This can avoid issues with your forklift truck dimensions. In tight space confinements you should also explore order pickers and turret trucks which can operate in aisles narrower than the standard 11' aisle width required for regular sized forklifts.

3- What is the weight of your maximum load? Electric pallet trucks can usually lift a minimum of 2,000 pounds, while the larger units lift around 10,000 lbs.

4- How high does your lift need to reach? If you are just unloading freight trucks than your pallet truck will not need to reach to very high levels. If you are also using your machines for stocking shelves or other functions you may need to consider purchasing a reach (cherry picker), side loader,

When purchasing a lift truck, consider the serviceability of the pallet jack. Maintenance can greatly extend the life on your electric pallets jack. Electrical, hydraulic and mechanical systems require different maintenance and service schedules.

Depending on the maximum weight you need to lift, you may also need to purchase a weight counterbalanced unit. Weight counterbalanced lift trucks have a larger lift capacity.a 2 ton jack obviously will have different physicals and handling characteristics compared to forklift trucks which can lift over 100,000 lbs.

The most popular brand for lift trucks is Toyota Material Handling USA. The majority of these units are manufactured in the USA at their Columbus Indianapolis facility.Toyota also makes products in cooperation with Raymond as well.

One of the most recent innovations includes active stability control. This minimizes the potential for product and equipment damage in situations caused by lateral instability.

Consolidation in the forklift industry is extremely common.  For example, MFCA (also known as Mitsubishi Forklift Caterpillar America) makes both units, and replacement parts for both the Caterpillar (Cat) and Mitsubishi forklift and pallet truck brands.

When purchasing a new lift truck, consider purchasing a maintenance contract as well. By performing scheduled maintenance, you can greatly extend the usable life of your electric pallet jack.

If your budget does not allow for a new electric pallet jack, consider purchasing a used or refurbished model. Be extremely cautious if you are considering the purchase of a used pallet jack. Common issues usually involve unit abuse & improper repairs. If possible, check if the used unit comes with a repair/maintenance log. One of the most important things that you can do is check the condition of the forklift/electric pallet jack batteries.  You don't want to purchase a unit with batteries which will need immediate replacement.

Pallet jacks can also be easily repaired by purchasing your own pallet jack parts. Replaceable parts include wheel kits, bearings, hydraulic units, motors, switches, controls, batteries and bumpers.

It is extremely important that OSHA regulations are followed by your forklift operators.  Failure to use cause in your warehouse can cause damage to inventory, machines, and potential physical injury as well.  Many accidents are cause by accidents which occur when fork lift drivers accidentally bump into pallet shelving units.

If you are interested in a new forklift, you can also lease the unit & enjoy the tax benefits and lower payments. Certain manufacturers such as Yale offer direct factory equipment leasing. Another option is to use a third party financing company to acquire your lift truck. This is a great way to acquire equipment without straining your cash flow. You can spread out the cost of your forklift over the expected useful life of the machine.

In order to minimize the number of accidents in your workplace, it is very important that your drivers are properly trained to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Hazards Association) standards.  Here are some of the tips which have been shown to minimize the number of forklift collisions and fatality incidents.

Make sure that your forklift operators are adequately trained to read, understand, and interpret all of the safety devices and gauges on your machine.  This means that they need to understand warning information such as irregular operation, overheating machines, and other potential faults which can prevent safe operation of your Toyota electric pallet jack.  If you are operating a forklift truck in construction environments it is also very important that you wear adequate safety gear such as hard hats. 

It is also very important that daily safety inspections (not to be confused with preventative maintenance inspections) are performed by the forklift operator.  This should be done prior to the beginning of the work shift, in order to catch any potential safety hazards.  A checklist can be found in your owner manual for your Toyota electric pallet jack/forklift machine.  If you do not wish to carry the manual, you can also create a single page print out of the safety checklist.

• Big Joe electric pallet jack and forklifts
  
• Caterpillar electric pallet jack and forklifts
  
• Clark electric pallet jack and forklifts
  
• Crown electric pallet jack and forklifts
  
• Hyster electric pallet jack and forklifts
• Komatsu electric pallet jack and forklifts
• Linde electric pallet jack and forklifts
• Mitsubishi electric pallet jack and forklifts
• Nissan electric pallet jack and forklifts
• Raymond electric pallet jack and forklifts
• TCM electric pallet jack and forklifts
• Toyota electric pallet jack and forklifts
• Yale electric pallet jack and forklifts

If you are looking for a machine only to use on a temporary basis, instead of buying or leasing a machine you can also explore a pallet jack rental option. Renting the machine could make more sense if you do not need equipment for use on a full time basis.  For a full list of who makes Forklifts in the USA, visit my hubpage which has a list of forklifts made in the USA.

The batteries in your material handling equipment need to be taken care of in order to maximize the lifespan of this component.  Keep in mind that forklift batteries can be extremely expensive to replace (compared to the other parts on your pallet jack truck).  If you plan on using your machine for longer than a single work shift you will also need to purchase an external battery charger, along with a battery stand which you can store your batteries safely.  Keep in mind that your batteries will typically need around 16 hours to fully charge and cool back down.  Make sure that your batteries are always being charged in a well ventilated room area, as it can be very dangerous due to the Hydrogen gas being produced.