An ITA Class II VNA forklift with rotating forks allowing operation in 5-6 ft aisles.
Detailed Definition
A turret truck is a very narrow aisle lift truck whose forks are mounted on a head that rotates and moves sideways, so it can store and retrieve pallets on either side of an aisle without turning the truck. Industry classification places turret trucks in Class II, electric motor narrow aisle trucks. They come in operator-down versions and operator-up versions where the cab rises with the load. Because the truck never turns in the aisle, aisles can be little wider than the truck and load.
What a turret truck needs from the building
Turret trucks work in very narrow aisle layouts, and the building has to support them. Floors usually need tight flatness and levelness tolerances, because small slopes are magnified at high lift heights. Aisles are commonly fitted with wire guidance in the floor or guide rails along the rack, which keep the truck centered. Rack must be designed for the truck, with clearances agreed by the truck maker and rack designer.
Pallet requirements for VNA storage
At height and in tight aisles, poor pallets cause problems quickly. Check that:
- Pallet footprint and overhang match the rack design and aisle clearance.
- Pallets are in good repair, with no broken bottom boards or loose debris that can catch on rack.
- Fork entry suits the truck, since the forks enter from the aisle face of the pallet.
- Load heights stay within the clearance under each beam level.
Training and operation
Turret trucks are powered industrial trucks under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178, and operators need training on the specific truck. Operator-up models also involve working at height, so fall protection and emergency lowering procedures belong in training.
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a turret truck and a reach truck?
A reach truck must turn 90 degrees in the aisle to face the rack, so the aisle has to be wide enough for the truck to turn with a load. A turret truck stays straight in the aisle and rotates only its fork head, so it can work in much narrower aisles. Reach trucks cost less and move more freely around a building, while turret trucks trade flexibility for storage density.
Can a turret truck leave the narrow aisle?
Yes. Turret trucks drive through transfer aisles and to pick-up and drop-off stations, but they are slower and less maneuverable than counterbalanced forklifts in open areas. Many VNA warehouses use other trucks to bring pallets to stations at the aisle ends, while the turret trucks handle putaway and retrieval inside the aisles.