A retail pallet passes through many hands: from the distribution centre dock onto the truck, from the truck into the supermarket backroom, then out to the shelves. Most of that journey is horizontal transport on flat floors over short distances, often in tight spots. This is the territory of the electric pallet truck for retail and the hand pallet truck – the largest group by number in a distribution fleet.
Stages that use electric and hand pallet trucks
- Truck loading at the dock: pulling pallets out of the truck body to the staging area and back.
- Cross-docking: inbound goods are split straight into outbound lanes by store, without going into racks.
- Store delivery: drivers or staff move pallets from the truck into the supermarket backroom, sometimes via a goods lift.
- On the sales floor: taking promotional pallets out to displays, usually off-peak, in aisles busy with shoppers.
Sector-specific requirements
At the distribution centre dock, speed and distance dominate: pallets must come out of the truck fast to free the dock door for the next arrival. In the store it is the opposite: tight spaces, customers and lifts call for a small, light truck that is easy to control at low speed. Heavy goods such as drinks, rice and canned food mean heavy pallets, while light bulky goods can tip if the truck accelerates hard. That is why two different truck groups are usually needed for the two environments.
Suitable STILL models
For stores and the sales floor
The STILL ECH 12C / ECH 15C replaces the hand pallet truck, weighs only 115 kg in service and carries 1,200/1,500 kg. STILL names exactly these settings: goods lifts, sales floors and aisles between shelves. The creep speed switch allows control with the tiller upright; the lithium-ion battery charges from a socket with an external charger.
The STILL EXH 14C carries 1,400 kg and is described by STILL for typical transport tasks in logistics and retail: taking goods to the sales area and occasional help with truck loading. It can be steered with one hand and has a lithium-ion battery with integrated charger.
The EXH 16 – 20 (up to 2,000 kg) has OptiSpeed, which adjusts speed to the tiller angle for careful driving and braking on busy sales floors; STILL explicitly mentions supermarkets and use inside trucks.
For the distribution centre dock
The STILL EXH-S 20 – 25 has a platform, carries up to 2,500 kg and reaches up to 14 km/h over longer distances. Smart Load Protect reduces speed automatically when the initial lift is not raised or when entering a truck – a situation repeated hundreds of times a day at the dock. The EXH-SF 20 – 25 has an overall width of 720 mm, narrower than a Euro pallet, and a pneumatically cushioned platform, suiting narrow cross-dock aisles.
HPS/HPT hand pallet trucks
STILL HPS/HPT trucks carry 1,000 to 3,000 kg and are named for production, retail and logistics. The version with a splash-proof scale display lets staff check pallet weight on receipt; the HPT lifts up to 800 mm for ergonomic work. A hand pallet truck remains a cheap and necessary backup in every store.
Selection table by stage
| Stage | Type/model | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Goods lift, sales floor | STILL ECH 12C / 15C | Small, light, creep speed with tiller upright |
| Store backroom, occasional use | STILL EXH 14C | One-hand operation, integrated charger |
| Supermarket, delivery truck unloading | STILL EXH 16 – 20 | OptiSpeed, compact inside the truck |
| Distribution centre dock, long runs | STILL EXH-S 20 – 25 | Platform, Smart Load Protect when entering trucks |
| Goods-in checks | STILL HPS/HPT with scale | Weighs the pallet on the spot |
Operating tips
- Keep two truck groups: fast trucks at the central dock, small trucks in stores; one type rarely fits both.
- Li-Ion pallet trucks can be opportunity-charged, which suits multi-trip delivery schedules.
- Check the goods lift capacity in each store, including the truck plus the pallet.
- See also hand pallet truck vs electric pallet truck and the ranges in the pallet trucks and hand pallet trucks categories.
All solutions are on the retail & wholesale page.
Frequently asked questions
Should a small store use a hand pallet truck or an electric one?
If few pallets arrive each day, a hand pallet truck is enough. With heavy pallets, a lift or slight ramps, a small truck such as the ECH 12C/15C noticeably reduces physical effort.
Is an electric pallet truck safe on a floor with customers?
Creep speed and OptiSpeed improve control, but you should still set times and zones for moving goods on the sales floor.
Pedestrian or platform truck for the distribution centre dock?
Long runs and high frequency call for a platform truck such as the EXH-S or EXH-SF, so the operator tires less and the truck runs faster.
Need to configure a pallet truck fleet for the dock and stores? Send a request on the quote page or call 0902 63 79 70.