03 / Deep-lane storage
Drive-in racking
Store repeated quantities of the same product in deep lanes. Plan pallet support, forklift clearances and stock rotation as one system.
Why choose drive-in?
Fewer aisles.
Deeper storage.
Drive-in can suit a relatively small SKU range with many pallets of each product. It uses deep storage lanes to reduce working aisles, with the forklift entering the rack to reach the pallet positions.
Group the positions
Use fewer working aisles to concentrate pallet positions. Assess the benefit from the actual layout and the number of lanes your inventory can fill.
Plan by product
Group one SKU throughout a lane, including its levels. Match lane capacity to the quantities held and the way replenishment works.
Plan the rotation
Same-end drive-in access normally works last-in, first-out. Review stock dates and turnover before choosing the storage sequence.
The access tradeoff
Depth changes what you can reach.
Individual pallets are not all directly accessible. The truck enters the lane and stored loads can block access to pallets behind them. Compare selective racking for individual access, push-back for aisle-side handling, or pallet flow for FIFO movement.
Fixed rails. Truck entry.
The lane is part
of the operation.
The forklift carries each pallet into the lane and lowers it onto fixed support rails. The rack, pallet and truck need to work together throughout the loading and retrieval sequence.
Inside the lane
Check the truck
inside the rack.
Truck width, mast, chassis and the raised load all need the approved clearances. Plan entry, travel and placement using the actual truck and pallet details.
Clearances are specific to the selected system.Rails + bearing
Pallets rest on fixed rails along the lane. Pallet construction, orientation and condition must provide the bearing required by the selected system.
Check the actual palletClearance inside
The forklift enters the lane to place and retrieve loads. Check the truck, mast and loaded pallet against the rack clearances at every working height.
Review the full truck envelopeFrames + bracing
Frames, support arms, bracing and anchoring work together to carry the loads. Configuration and site conditions determine the approved limits.
Use the approved configurationGuidance + guards
Entrance protection and guidance can help position the truck and reduce impact exposure. They must suit the truck and the planned operating clearances.
Protection supports careful operationThis explains the storage principle. Operators must follow the selected manufacturer's loading, retrieval and truck-entry procedures.
Before choosing lane depth
Start with
the pallet.
Bring the pallet, inventory and truck details together before fixing the lane geometry. The useful capacity depends on both the layout and how the stock moves.
Discuss your project- 01
Inventory + rotation
Pallets per SKU, stock turnover, batches or dates, replenishment pattern and required storage positions.
- 02
Pallets + loaded size
Pallet footprint, construction, orientation and condition; loaded height, overhang, stability and weight.
- 03
Truck + lane clearances
Truck model and dimensions, mast and chassis, forks, operating clearances and capacity at the required lift height.
- 04
Facility + conditions
Location, clear height, slab details, columns, doors, fire-protection constraints, operating temperature, drawings or photos and target timing.
From lane plan to installed system
Plan. Install.
Look after it.
Coordinate the storage system, facility and field work. Explore the service scope for a new installation or a proposed change to existing racking.
Design + layout
Coordinate lane depth, rack rows, pallet support, truck clearances and site constraints.
→ 02 / BuildInstallation + teardown
Plan field work around the selected system, agreed layout and operating conditions.
→ 03 / ReviewRack safety + compliance
Review rack condition, components, documentation and the next actions for the site.
→
01 / PlanDesign + layout
Coordinate lane depth, rack rows, pallet support, truck clearances and site constraints.
→
02 / BuildInstallation + teardown
Plan field work around the selected system, agreed layout and operating conditions.
→
03 / ReviewRack safety + compliance
Review rack condition, components, documentation and the next actions for the site.
→Frequently asked questions
Plan the depth.
Know the access.
Answers to the questions that shape inventory fit, pallet support and truck-entry planning.
What is the difference between drive-in and drive-through?
Drive-in is normally loaded and unloaded from the same end, giving last-in, first-out access within a lane. Drive-through provides access at opposite ends and can support first-in, first-out rotation when loading and retrieval are planned accordingly. Two-ended access does not automatically manage expiry dates or stock rotation.
What inventory suits drive-in racking?
Drive-in can suit a relatively small number of SKUs with many pallets of each product. Group the same SKU throughout a lane, including its levels, to reduce blocked access and partially filled lanes. Check pallet quantities, replenishment, turnover and the required rotation before choosing the layout.
Can we use our existing forklift?
The actual truck must fit inside the rack lane while carrying and lifting the load. Review overall width, mast, chassis, overhead guard, forks and clearances to the rails and structure, as well as capacity at the required lift height. A truck that works in the existing aisles is not automatically suitable for drive-in racking.
Can we use our existing pallets?
Pallet footprint, construction, orientation and condition must suit the support rails and required bearing. The loaded dimensions, overhang, stability and weight also matter. Have the pallet and load requirements confirmed for the selected system before treating existing pallets as compatible.
How deep should the storage lanes be?
Choose depth around pallets per SKU, stock turnover, the handling sequence and the required storage positions. Deeper lanes can increase density, but partially filled lanes can leave positions unused and individual pallets remain harder to access. Compare usable capacity and operating fit rather than selecting depth alone.
How much weight can drive-in racking hold?
There is no universal capacity. Approved load limits depend on the rails, support arms, frames, bracing, configuration, anchoring and site conditions. Share the loaded pallet weights and geometry, and use the ratings and operating instructions for the approved system.
Have pallet details or a layout?
Let's plan
your storage.
Send the pallet and load details, quantities per SKU, forklift model and facility location. Start with what you know; the remaining questions can be narrowed from there.
Request a quote