When shopping for a pallet truck many people say they need a ‘standard’ pallet truck, but what exactly is the standard pallet? The term ‘standard’ all depends on which industry you are in to know what the standard is for that, for example they are available in all different shapes and sizes and so its is necessary to choose the right one for you.

What about standards in different countries?

Within each region there is a standard of the pallet truck and their measurements. Euro pallets are 1200mm x 800mm with the 800mm side being open boarded. They are used where the 800mm side is entered and the pallet is transported lengthways. British and US pallets are a metre wide and are better suited to the wider 685mm trucks with the 10000mm length.

Safety standards with all pallet trucks

Worldwide standards are set in place for the safety of all pallet trucks. The most important standard is the ANSI B56. The decision makers of these safety laws have now been passed from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to the Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation (ITSDF), which is a non-profit organisation, after multi-year negotiations.

Other standards have been implemented in America by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and in the UK by the Health and Safety Executive. In many countries truck operators must be trained and certified to operate the trucks.

As with any standards and laws these change on a regular basis and so it is important if you are an employer in the industrial sector or a pallet truck user for example to keep up-to-date with these standards and laws to ensure you are being safe and your pallet trucks are up to scratch.

Looking for information on electric pallet trucks?

In the world of material handling, heavy loads are a common thing. There are many ways move these loads easily and safely. Among these is the use of a powered pallet truck also known as a power pallet truck, pallet jack or power pallet jack.

These devices are very simple in construction while affording a great deal of versatility to the material handler. Among the benefits of power pallet trucks are the ability to move very heavy material, move stacked pallets and allowing mobility in a safe manner. These are used mainly indoors where exhaust fumes form a standard forklift would be prohibitive or unsafe.

If you can, imagine the forks of a forklift with wheels embedded in the bottoms. The forks attached to a handle. The forks are placed into the entry slots of a pallet. The handle of the pallet truck is used to “pump” the pallet off of the ground so it can be moved. As the forks rise up, the wheels stay on the ground. This is basic pallet truck construction.

Some are made of strong extruded aluminum and some are constructed of special alloys or even steel. Some are manual or non-powered while some have a motorized feature which allows the transport of heavier loads and still giving the user maneuverability in small spaces.

Most power pallet trucks are what are called “walk behinds”. This means that a person can walk behind the truck while pushing the load. The load can also be pulled for further ease of operation.

You have probably seen these being used in large grocery stores or on loading docks.

There are several companies that make electric pallet trucks. The largest is Linde Material Handling followed closely by Raymond and Toyota. Others include names like Mitsubishi, Hyster and Atlet. There are other brands available as well.

All make a good quality product that gets the job done.

If safety is a concern as it should be, look for power pallet trucks that have these features: