Warehouse Drive in Racking System

Drive in racking system is a type of storage system designed to maximize storage density in a warehouse.

It features a series of upright frames and horizontal rails that create deep storage lanes. Pallets are loaded and unloaded into these lanes from one end, typically using forklifts. The forklift drives directly into the lane, placing the pallet at the backmost available position and then retrieving pallets in a last-in, first-out (LIFO) order.

This warehouse racking system eliminates the need for multiple aisles between every row of racks, as seen in traditional selective pallet racking. By reducing the aisle space, more pallets can be stored within the same footprint. For example, in a warehouse with limited floor area, drive in racking can significantly increase the number of pallet positions.

However, it also has some drawbacks. Due to the LIFO retrieval method, it may not be suitable for products with short shelf lives or those that require frequent access to specific pallets. Additionally, the forklift driving into the narrow lanes requires skilled operators to avoid collisions with the rack structure. Overall, drive in racking system is a valuable option when storage density is a top priority and the inventory characteristics allow for its use.