System features WALKIE pallet jack with Nested sled and matching pallets, designed for Beverage Delivery in Rough parking lots and tight store aisles
Yale Lift Truck Technologies has announced the demonstration of a new, holistic direct-store-delivery solution at the National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA) annual convention and trade show, Oct. 12-15 in Las Vegas. At booth 407, visitors can get an up-close look at the solution, which includes a walkie pallet jack, a detachable sled that secures to the base pallet jack, and matching pallets. Each element helps drivers to better maneuver equipment and work more efficiently in these applications, which often require operation on uneven outdoor surfaces and in tight retail areas.
“Direct-store-delivery applications come with unique challenges compared to indoor warehouse environments. Our goal with this solution was to provide a holistic tool to address the tight aisles, variable operating environments and ergonomic challenges beverage delivery drivers consistently face,” said Kevin McWilliams, Director of Major Accounts, Yale Lift Truck Technologies. “NBWA has worked for nearly a century to better the lives of beverage delivery professionals, and that’s exactly what we aim to do with this customer-driven system.”
The solution features an electric walkie pallet jack with a nested, motorized sled that provides the capability of two pieces of equipment in one system. This configuration saves space in delivery trucks and removes the need for drivers to bring both a pallet truck and a handcart to the front of a store. Instead, operators can simply detach the sled nested in the larger pallet jack to take advantage of a lower-profile option designed for use in tight retail spaces.
The motorized sled provides a power assist when navigating up inclines or traversing thresholds to help reduce manual effort. To help drivers during unloading, the sled can also raise the load platform to reduce the bending and lifting required to remove product from pallets when restocking. The pallets themselves are lightweight and low profile, enabling them to be tightly stacked to save space in delivery trailers and helping maximize the maneuverability benefits of the sled’s small footprint.
