operations. This tractor is used in outside storage areas
The four-wheel platform hand truck (figure 7-5)
for hauling trailers or for towing aircraft. It also may be
may be used to advantage in breaking out retail issues
used for general-purpose towing or pulling at freight
for bins, carrying light loads, or for any operation
sheds, piers, warehouses, or other areas. It has enough
involving short hauls with frequent stops. It may also be
weight, horsepower, and traction to operate on
used in multistory warehouses and for small-lot stock
virtually all types of running surfaces.
picking. The truck may be equipped with solid rubber
tires or steel wheels.
T h e 7 , 5 0 0 - p o u n d , d r aw b a r- p u l l , g a s o l i n e -
powered warehouse tractor has pneumatic tires. It is
The two-wheel hand truck (figure 7-6) consists of
the standard heavy-duty tractor for outdoor storage
two handles a platform on which the load rests, and
operations. This capacity tractor is available in two
wheels attached to the bottom of the framework. A blade
sizes. The first type is the low profile, industrial type
extends at an angle from the bottom of the platform to
tractor with conventional pneumatic tires on both drive
hold the load.
and steering wheels. The second type is the high
A stock picker truck (figure 7-7) is a hand truck used
flotation model with oversized pneumatic tires on the
for picking stock from shelves when filling orders. The
drive wheels.
Storekeeper pushes the truck in the aisles between the
shelves to carry small issues in cardboard containers,
WAREHOUSE TRAILERS
paper envelopes, or tote boxes. Some models are
equipped with a ladder so the stock picker can reach
A warehouse trailer is a load-carrying platform
materials on high shelves safely.
mounted on caster wheels. Standard trailers are
available in a wide variety of sizes and capacities and
may have solid rubber or pneumatic tires. The
caster-steering type has fixed rear wheels that carry
about two-thirds of the load and caster wheels at the
front for steering. There are two models of caster
steering type trailers. They are the 4,000- and
6,000-pound capacity models, similar to the one
illustrated in figure 7-4. The caster steering type trailer
suites indoor operations better.
The fifth-wheel steering type warehouse trailer has
rear wheels mounted on a rigid axle and front wheels
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mounted on a center-pivoted steering axle with a
Figure 7-5.--Four-wheel platform hand truck.
drawbar attachment. This type of trailer is available
with a capacity of either 6,000 or 20,000 pounds. It is
more suitable for heavy loads or for operations over
rough surfaces.
HAND TRUCKS
Hand trucks may be constructed of wood or metal.
They are used in phases that mechanical equipment
cannot be operated because of space limitations.
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Figure 7-4.--Warehouse trailer.
Figure 7-6.--Two-wheel hand truck.
7-3
