1. Last-In/First-Out or First-In/First-Out
If you have products that move quickly enough to remain viable even when using the last-in/first-out storage method, you can rely on a drive-in rack system. While perishable goods may not last, non-perishables and manufactured materials will work well using this system because they can remain on the racks for an indefinite amount of time. Even products with a limited shelf life but fast turnover, such as frozen foods, can store well in a last-in/first-out system.
For drive-through systems, you can use the first-in/first-out loading and unloading method. This option works best for perishables and other goods that require regular stock rotation for freshness and peak product usage.
2. Storing a Large Volume of Products
Facilities that need to store a large volume of products in a minimum amount of space will benefit from using a drive-in racking system. Because these systems allow for more efficient use of space, a warehouse can hold more products in the same floor area compared to other storage methods.
Ideally, the products stored in a drive-in rack system have similar sizes or are the same products. If storing different products, align goods of the same type of rows of the racks to make unloading more efficient.
3. Cannot Use Block-Stacking
While some types of products can use the economical block-stacking method, not all palletized products will support other pallets on top. In instances that require storing large volumes of products, but that still need to protect the goods on the pallets, drive-in rack storage works well.
Since each rack holds a row of pallets, every set of goods has adequate support and does not risk damage from needing to support additional products. Like block-stacking, drive-in rack storage works best for times when all the products on a shelf move out at the same time.
4. Product Staging
The best use of drive-in pallet racking is for product staging because the last-in/first-out system does not matter when workers load and unload all products at once. If large volumes of products need to move out of the facility at the same time, use a drive-in racking system. When setting pallets onto a drive-in rack system to prepare them for moving quickly to a truck for shipping, they will be ready near the loading dock for rapid loading of the truck.
Additionally, for products that need to ship, staging them on a drive-in racking system frees storage space elsewhere for other goods that need longer-term storage.
5. Storing Seasonal, Fast-Moving Products
Just as product staging makes wise use of the last-in/first-out storage method, so, too, does seasonal storage. Products sold at specific times of the year and that sell quickly do not experience any adverse effects from the last-in/first-out storage on a drive-in rack system.
For e-commerce, many highly prized gift items do not last long in a warehouse during the holiday shopping season. Food products made for specific times of the year, like cranberry sauce or pumpkin spice-flavored anything, sell quickly for a few short months. The entire contents of a row on the rack system will likely move out of the warehouse at once, so older products do not remain in storage for long.
