A pallet truck is a piece of handling equipment fitted with two forks that slide under a pallet to lift it a few centimeters and move it horizontally. There are three main families, manual, walkie electric and autonomous (robotic), but none of them stores the load at height: that role falls to the stacker or the forklift.
A transport machine, not a height-storage one
The pallet truck is the entry-level tool for handling pallets in a warehouse, shop or factory. Its function is a single one: lift a palletized load just enough to clear it off the ground (a hydraulic lift of a few centimeters, rarely more than 20 cm) and pull or push it to its drop-off point. Standard forks measure 1,150 mm, sized for the Euro pallet; a shorter 800 mm version exists for tight spaces (trucks, store backrooms).
Three families differ by their traction and lifting method.
- The manual pallet truck: lifting operated by a hydraulic pump on the tiller, muscle-powered traction. Typical capacity 2,000 to 2,500 kg.
- The electric pallet truck: motorized traction and/or lift, operator walking alongside or riding depending on the model.
- The autonomous pallet truck (or robotic): no operator, the robot navigates on its own using LiDAR and cameras and carries out its missions via supervision software.
Other variants meet specific needs: stainless-steel or galvanized versions for food processing and pharma, weighing versions with a scale built into the forks, high-lift (scissor) versions up to about 80 cm, which then fall under lifting-equipment regulations.
On the French market, sales of handling trucks (all categories combined, including pallet trucks) run at around 55,000 to 60,000 units per year, with the electric share now close to 55%.
FAQ
What is the difference between a pallet truck and a stacker?
The pallet truck moves a pallet horizontally, with a lift limited to a few centimeters. The stacker adds a lifting mast that allows the load to be stored at height, on a rack, up to several meters, depending on the model and the power source chosen.
Does an electric pallet truck require a CACES certificate?
Not always: the walkie electric pallet truck (operator on foot) is generally exempt from CACES R489, but the employer must issue a driving authorization after training. Ride-on models, on the other hand, fall under category 1A of CACES R489, worth checking.
What load capacity does a standard pallet truck have?
The rated capacity of a standard pallet truck is between 2,000 and 2,500 kg, suited to a loaded Euro pallet. Reinforced models or self-propelled versions can exceed this capacity depending on the warehouse's needs and the actual weight carried.
Related terms
Manual pallet truck · Electric pallet truck · Autonomous pallet truck · Stacker · Forklift · Anatomy of a handling truck · CACES · VGP.
See also: guide to the autonomous pallet truck, price of an electric pallet truck, manual vs. electric pallet truck.
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