Along with forklifts, pallet jacks are among the most indispensable pieces of materials handling equipment in the workplace. Virtually every type of business that requires the regular movement of large quantities and weights of goods has at least one basic manual pallet jack at its disposal. Larger warehouses, factories and other industrial workplaces often have a number of pallet jacks, ranging from lighter duty manual models to more sophisticated motorized styles with weighing scales or other extra features included.
The standard manual pallet jacks are a deceptively simple device. It consists of forks on rollers for inserting under a pallet and a handle that is used to lift the forks via a hydraulic jack and move the cargo from place to place. It is highly maneuverable and can fit into spaces where a forklift often cannot go.