Very Narrow Aisle and Narrow Aisle Trucks: Certain forklifts have VNA features or NA features. To be able to operate efficiently and safely, nearly all counterbalanced trucks require at least 11 feet of aisle width. Narrow Aisle trucks however, could operate in narrow aisles that are 8 to 10 feet wide. Moreover, very narrow aisle or VNA trucks could operate in aisles as narrow as 6 feet wide.
NA and VNA trucks provide a lot of advantages since they make it possible for warehouses to be built with narrower aisles. This results in the warehouse being able to successfully store numerous more products within a particular area, improving cube use. The loads moved by Very Narrow Aisle and NA trucks usually are limited to roughly 3000 and 5000 lbs. Reach trucks are capable of operating in narrow aisle. Order selectors, turret trucks and rotating mast trucks could work within narrow or very narrow aisles, depending on the particular model.
Reach Trucks: Specially made for storage and retrieval, reach trucks are made with outriggers and telescoping forks that enables the operator to pick up and retract a load over the outriggers. These models are not the best suited for unloading or loading trucks, nor for transporting loads quickly over long distances. Similar to the order selector, reach trucks can be available for lifting heights that are greater than 30 feet.
Rotating-Mast Trucks and Turret Trucks: Like regular sit-down forklifts, rotating mast trucks have masts which are able to rotate in one direction, to a 90 degree angle. This particular feature allows them to operate within a narrow aisle situation. Turret trucks are able to work in very narrow or narrow aisle places. Similar to order selectors, these machinery could lift both the cargo and the operator. Moreover, they could allow the operator to deal with loads on either side of an aisle without re-entering and exiting the aisle.
Turret trucks are usually rail or wire guided when used in very narrow aisles. Therefore, the operator doesn't have to focus any energy on their driving skills and can focus on the work load at hand. Because turret trucks are considered "operator-up" trucks, they can be used for item and case picking as well as full pallet handling.