A hand-pumped hydraulic pallet jack used for short-distance pallet movement on warehouse floors.
Detailed Definition
A manual pallet jack, also called a hand pallet truck, has two forks with load wheels near the tips and steer wheels under a pump unit. The operator slides the forks into the pallet openings, pumps the handle to raise the load a few inches off the floor, and pulls or pushes it to the destination. A release lever lowers the load. Manual jacks are inexpensive and need no charging, but moving heavy loads relies on the operator's strength, so they suit short moves on smooth, level floors. Powered versions are called walkie pallet jacks.
Pallet compatibility
A pallet jack needs open space between the bottom deck boards so the load wheels can drop through to the floor. That means the pallet design determines where a jack can enter. On a stringer pallet, the jack enters from the two ends. The notches cut in a partial four-way pallet admit forklift tines but generally not a pallet jack, because the bottom deck boards block the wheels. Block pallets with suitable bottom deck openings allow true four-way pallet jack entry, which is why many retailers and pools prefer them.
Safe and effective use
- Check the capacity plate and never exceed it.
- Push rather than pull where practical, and keep loads low and centered on the forks.
- Avoid ramps, dock plates with steep slopes and rough or cracked floors.
- Inspect wheels and the hydraulic unit; flat-spotted or seized wheels make the jack much harder to move.
- Lower the forks fully when parked so they are not a trip hazard.
Manual jacks are not powered industrial trucks, so OSHA's 1910.178 training rule does not apply to them directly, but employers should still train workers on safe pushing, pulling and parking.
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can a forklift enter my pallet from the side but a pallet jack cannot?
On a stringer pallet with notched stringers, the notches create openings for forklift tines from the sides. A pallet jack's load wheels need to reach the floor through gaps in the bottom deck, and on the sides the bottom deck boards run across those openings and block the wheels. So the pallet is four-way for forklifts but only two-way for pallet jacks. A block pallet with open bottom design solves this.
How heavy a load can one person move with a manual pallet jack?
The jack's rated capacity is on its capacity plate, but the practical limit is the force needed to start and keep the load moving. That depends on load weight, wheel material and condition, floor smoothness and slope. Heavy loads that are hard to start, or frequent long pulls, are signs that a powered pallet jack is a better fit. Ergonomic push and pull force guidance can help employers set limits.