Walkie Trucks

The walkie or pallet truck is one of industy s most versatile pieces of equipment. It is designed to transport, load, unload, lift, pick, stage, and store materials or product. These units can be found in just about any facility that moves product. They are relatively inexpensive and don t require the same degree of maintenance, operating expense, or operator training as forklifts. Walkies can easily move product around at any small business where material handling needs are small. 

Many employers do not provide operator training on these units because they appear to be easily operated. Many workers, including untrained office staff and visitors, will all try their hand at operating a walkie. Many are surprised when the unit runs into another person, damages racking or product, or drives off a dock. 

To safely operate a walkie truck, basic safety principles must be taught to workers and then enforced. The following safe-working guidelines can be very useful in training operators to handle walkie trucks. 

Before using the walkie, check the main functions of the machine including  

---

Operator-Guided Vehicles Operator-guided vehicles used in industry are mainly walkie trucks, forklift tractors, and towing tractors. 

Walkie trucks can be considered the battery-powered version of the hand-operated forklift trucks. They are equipped with wheeled forks used to lift loads. The worker usually does not ride on the vehicle, but he controls the speed and the steering systems by using a control handle in front of the vehicle. For safety reasons, the maximum speed is limited to about 5 km/h, therefore no more than the normal speed of a human worker. 

Forklift tractors use forks to lift and move materials. With respect to walkie trucks, they present the following advantages higher speed, higher payloads, and capability to lift the loads at different heights in high-density storage racks. This vehicle has a seat for the driver who controls... 

When operating a powered walkie truck near the dock edge, never back the unit to the dock. Always have the load toward the dock for personal safety. 

Keep hands, feet, and other body parts confined to the running lines of the rider-walkie truck. 

Keep employees and visitors away from the area where a load is being lifted or deposited. Always warn others of your intentions. Make eye contact with others before moving the powered walkie truck. 

Never permit anyone to stand or walk under the load-engaging mechanism of the walkie trucks. Keep the arms, hands, feet, legs, and head away from the upright mast at all times. 

Walkie trucks do not have overhead guards therefore, the security of the load is important. Never remove the protective backrest from the mast. This metal bracket device helps to secure product from falling back onto the operator. 

Go slowly on dockboards and dockplates. Be sure they are secured before traveling on them. In addition, the capacity of the dockplate must allow for the weight of the walkie truck and the load being carried. The lip of the dockplate... 

Never turn a walkie truck on a ramp or incline the unit could easily tip over. 

Never reach under the walkie truck to clear a jam or to search for foreign objects. Injury can occur when someone else moves the truck. Always turn the key off when inspecting the walkie unit. Figure 10-17 serves as a reminder of this safety rule. 

When parked, shut off the key and lower the load. Be sure the unit or load is not blocking a doorway, emergency equipment, or an aisle. Be sure to remove the key to prevent unauthorized use of the walkie truck. 

Powered Walkie Trucks New Designs Stretch Applications. Material Handling Engineering. December 1995, pp. 47-55. 

If the worker is essential to the material handling operations, provide mechanical assistance such as hoists, manipulators, walkie trucks, lift tables, work positioners, and similar systems or devices. 

The standard weapon appeared to be the British Lee-En-field rifle. There were a number of small machine pistols of local manufacture, short-range weapons not very accurate beyond 50 yards. I saw Bren guns (automatic rifles) and a few heavy machine guns. Mines and other demolition material were also homemade and seemed of good quality. Communication equipment included a number of pack sets and walkie-talkies, and radio communication was constant between all major military headquarters. There was some motor transport, but no truck-mounted radio transmitters or power plants. 

There is a wide range of industrial tmcks available. Going from simple to sophisticated and from wide-aisle to narrow-aisle tmcks, a possible list would be as follows (1) hand truck/cart, (2) pallet jack, (3) walkie stacker, (4) pallet/platform tmck, (5) counterbalanced lift tmck, (6) straddle truck, (7) reach truck, (8) sideloader, (9) turret tmck, (10) storage/retrieval tmck, and (11) order picker tmck, among others. Examples of 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11 are shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and... 

Figure 2 Walkie Stacker. (Courtesy of Crown Lift Trucks)...

Walkie Burden Carrier. The walkie burden carrier is typically a three-point suspension hauler using battery-electric power, although some units are available that are powered by a small air-cooled engine. They are similar in design to the previously discussed walkie lift trucks, except that they have a fixed platform. Load rauges of 1000 to 3000 lb (450 to 1360 kg) are available and application is limited to noncontained loads. Loading is generally done by hand or, in the case of heavier loads, by hoists and cranes. 

The training of operators must include classroom interaction and the use of visual aids. Many of the various details of lift truck movement such as tipover, tip forward, counterbalance, stability triangle, lateral and longitudinal stability must be discussed. Trainees must know each model s specific details for operation. Couple this with the different kinds of lift trucks counterbalance, narrow-aisle, walkies, stock-chasers, etc., and it s obvious that there are many details involved in operating a powered industrial truck. 

Swartz, George. Powered Walkie/Rider Pallet Trucks. Forklift Safety A Practical Guide for Preventing Incidents and Injuries. Rockville, MD Government Institutes. 1997. pp.59-68. 

Von Holt, Dirk. Selection Guide for Walkie Hand Trucks. Plant Engineering. December 11, 1995, pp. 77-78. 

For walkie models, operators should position themselves so they have clear visibility and face the direction of travel. Generally, it is preferable, when possible, to have the load trailing behind—this gives more steering control and allows the operator to watch for uneven floor surfaces and other obstacles. When operating with the forks trailing, always have one hand on the controls. Use the hand closest to the pallet jack to operate the control handle. When possible, walk ahead and to the side of the truck when traveling forward. And, keep yovu feet out of the path of the pallet jack. 

---