An order picker is a lift truck whose operator platform, and sometimes the forks, rises with the operator to pick or place items directly at rack level, from the floor up to several meters high. Not to be confused with the job of the same name: here, the term refers to the machine.
From floor-level picking to picking at height
Two configurations exist depending on the picking level. Low-level models, whose lift height stays limited (generally up to 1.20 m), are used for fast picking at floor level or at the foot of the rack, often alongside a pallet truck. Elevating-cab models raise the operator, their cab, and sometimes the load, several meters into the air to reach an item in an upper-level slot: this is typical of warehouses doing unit picking in narrow aisles, where the picker works at height all day long.
These machines are distinguished from a stacker or a counterbalance truck by their use: they are not primarily designed to move heavy loads over long distances, but to optimize the time spent assembling an order made up of several references, by reducing back-and-forth trips and manual handling at height.
From a regulatory standpoint, operating an order picker falls under CACES R489: category 1A for low-level models (lift up to 1.20 m, as with pallet-truck order pickers), category 6 for elevating-cab models. These two categories cover different driving skills, notably height and visibility management for category 6.
FAQ
Which CACES certification is needed to operate an order picker?
CACES R489 category 1A covers low-level order pickers (lift up to 1.20 m). Elevating-cab models, where the operator rides up with the cab, fall under the separate category 6, which should be checked against the exact model used on site.
What is the difference between the order picker machine and the job?
The term “order picker” refers both to the employee who prepares orders in the warehouse and to the machine they use to reach the upper levels of racking. The context of the sentence usually removes the ambiguity.
Does the order picker replace the stacker?
No, the two are complementary. The stacker mainly stores or retrieves complete pallets at height, while the order picker is designed for unit or case picking, with the operator working right next to the product.
Related terms
Forklift · Reach truck · Stacker · Pallet truck · Anatomy of a lift truck · CACES · VGP.
See also: warehouse picking methods, CACES R489 guide.
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