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ther, functioning like automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and moving around the warehouse independently to pick up and drop off pallets. They use a variety of technologies—lasers, vision guidance systems, GPS, or other methods, depending on the manufacturer—to map and navigate their environment.

An interesting question is whether the growing sophistication of pallet truck design and technology has had an appreciable impact on the equipment’s price, reliability, and maintenance costs. Both Pedriana and Rice say modern pallet trucks’ initial price, maintenance costs, and lifespan have been relatively consistent with those seen in recent years. They also suggest that the equipment’s added utility, value, and operational cost savings are the most important metrics. Others have a different take. McNeill’s opinion is that, generally speaking, an increase in capability will mean an increase in initial product cost. “However, thanks to reduced maintenance needs and other operating expenses, the end user ultimately receives a more cost-effective solution over the life of the product,” he says.

One feature was cited more than any other as having had a beneficial impact on maintenance costs and productivity: the introduction of three-phase AC motor technology in pallet trucks. AC motor and controller technology, combined with the proper industrial batteries, helps manage the energy used and provides controlled acceleration when operators are moving materials throughout a warehouse, says Perry Ardito, general manager of warehouse products at MCFA, which provides Mitsubishi, Cat, and Jungheinrich lift trucks throughout the Western Hemisphere. Such an increase in efficiency often results in longer operating times that can be extended with different battery options, he explains. And because the AC drive motor has no carbon brushes, it reduces the need for maintenance, ensuring significant long-term reduction in downtime for routine service and maintenance.

A number of other features and enhance-
ments have led to increased durability
and reduced cost per hour of operation.
Koffarnus of Hyster highlights design
improvements for rough surfaces and
environments, as well as to under-
carriages, drive trains, controllers,
ergonomics, and automated solu-
tions. Others we consulted men-
tioned tougher materials and hard-
ware, and better protection against
the elements.

Toyota’s Brenneman sums it up this way: “The good news for pallet truck owners is that technology pays off in terms of the cost of operation, maintenance, and productivity.” In fact, he adds, the lifespan of modern pallet trucks is “generally as good as or better than the ‘built like a tank’ pallet trucks of yesteryear.”

A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE

Manufacturers have found many
ways to make pallet trucks more
efficient, more cost effective, and
appropriate for a wider range of
applications. But they’re not done
yet. When asked how the pallet
trucks of the future will differ from
those on the market today, experts
contacted for this article had the
following predictions:
b There will be more customiza-
tion, and more product solutions
will be linked to specific problems,
says Rice. She gives the example
of Raymond’s Pick2Pallet product,
which uses different-colored LED
lights mounted on a pallet truck’s
double-length forks to direct batch
picks to the correct pallet. The solu-
tion, which interfaces with the cus-
tomer’s warehouse management
software and voice-directed picking
system, originally was developed
for a grocery customer who wanted
to batch pick but found the picking
error rate to be too high. Customers
using the solution have reduced
placement errors by up to 25 per-
cent, according to Raymond.