Is selective pallet rack the same thing as pallet rack?

Almost always, yes. When someone asks for pallet racks with no other description, they mean selective: single-deep rows, an aisle on each side, direct access to every position. Pushback, drive-in, and pallet flow are higher-density alternatives you'd choose instead, not variations on the same system.

How does push back racking compare to drive-in rack?

Both store deep from one face. With pushback the forklift stays in the aisle and gravity does the work, which is faster and gentler on the structure. Drive-in goes deeper and costs less per position, but the driver has to enter the lane to place and pull loads.

How many lanes should each SKU get?

Fast movers often earn two or more lanes so the face doesn't run dry between replenishments, while slow movers can share a level. We assign lanes from pick data, not by splitting the bay evenly.

How far apart should the columns be?

Close enough that the load doesn't sag between arms. A common starting point puts arm spacing at roughly half the load length, with the remainder overhanging each end evenly. We check that math against your heaviest bundle before finalizing spacing.

How deep should a pallet flow lane be?

Five to twenty pallets is typical. Depth should match how much of one SKU moves through in a cycle - a lane that never fills is wasting a pick face. We size depth from your actual movement data, not a rule of thumb.

What's the difference between drive-in and drive-through rack?

Drive-in is open at one end and runs LIFO - dense storage. Drive-through is open at both ends and allows FIFO, at the cost of some positions and a second access aisle.

Industrial pallet racks and warehouse racking systems

Pallet Rack Systems for Greater Pittsburgh Warehouses

Name: Pittsburgh Pallet Racks
Address: 2681 Sidney St., Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, US
Telephone: (412) 866-1406
Price range: $$

We supply and install every major type of warehouse racking: pallet rack for full access to each position, pushback and drive-in rack when you need depth, pallet flow for FIFO rotation, cantilever for long loads, and carton flow for case picking.

Pick the system below that matches how your product moves, or call (412) 866-1406 and we will narrow it down with you in one conversation.

(412) 866-1406

Our Warehouse Racking Products

Six systems cover almost every storage problem we see in Greater Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania. Most buildings end up using two of them together.

Pallet Rack

Also called selective pallet rack

Every pallet reachable, every time. The baseline we size everything else against.

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Pushback Rack

Also called push back pallet rack system

Two to six pallets deep from one aisle, without giving up much reach.

See details

Carton Flow Rack

Also called carton flow shelving

Cases advance to the picker instead of the picker hunting for cases.

See details

Cantilever Rack

Also called cantilever warehouse racking

Arms with nothing in front of them, built for lumber, pipe, and anything a pallet can't hold.

See details

Pallet Flow Rack

Also called flow through racking

Load one side, pick the other, and let gravity enforce first in, first out.

See details

Drive-In Rack

Also called drive through pallet racking

Forklifts enter deep storage lanes, trading individual pallet access for bulk storage capacity.

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Choosing Between Rack Types

Four things decide the answer: how many SKUs you carry, how many pallets you hold of each one, how fast product turns, and how much height the building gives you.

Many SKUs with a pallet or two each point to selective pallet rack. Several pallets of the same item favor pushback. Date-driven rotation calls for pallet flow. Large volumes of a few items in a tight footprint suit drive-in. Long material needs cantilever, and case picking needs carton flow.

Free warehouse consultation

CAD layout with pallet position counts

Installation by trusted installation partners

One local contact from layout to punch list