DEFINITION: ELECTRIC PALLET JACK
An electric pallet jack is warehouse equipment that is used to lift and then move pallets. They are also referred to by warehouse industry experts as a “powered pallet jack”. These mini hand-manipulated trucks have other names as well. Synonyms for electro pallet trucks include:
- Electric pallet trucks.
- Walkies.
- Single or double-pallet jacks.
- Power jacks.
Some powered pallet jacks have a platform that the jack operator stands on while they lift and move pallets through a warehouse or distribution center. A pallet jack is used to move palletized inventory from one area to another with relative ease and speed. Used in warehouses, manufacturing plants, and storage facilities, pallet jacks are some of the most common and important pieces of equipment in the material handling industry.
A pallet jack’s front wheels are mounted at the end of the truck’s forks. As the hydraulic jack is raised, the forks are separated vertically from the front wheels. That forces up the load upward so it fully clears the floor. The pallet is lifted slightly up and above the floor by a few inches, and high enough to be moved.
Pallet jack operators generally use a throttle on the handle to move forward or in reverse. The steering is done by swinging the handle in the intended direction.
To stop the machine, operators use “plugging.”
This lets them turn the throttle from forward to reverse (or vice-versa) to decelerate and stop the truck and load.
To use the brake, the jack operator releases the handle to the vertical position. They can also hold it down lowering it to a horizontal position.