Picture this: your warehouse operation is bustling with activity, but your order pickers are caught in a cycle of inefficiency. Workers trudge seemingly endless miles through tight aisles, are forced to climb ladders over and over, and struggle with bulky equipment that was never designed for today's high-density storage environments. Stock chasers offer a focused answer to these pain points, overhauling how your team gets around, retrieves, and carries materials in tight-space facilities.

Exaclty What Is a Stock Chaser?

A stock chaser is a small, stand-on electric vehicle built for order picking and material transport in narrow aisles. In contrast to traditional forklifts that demand wide turning radii and substantial aisle space, these nimble vehicles navigate through spaces as tight as ordinary doorways while delivering substantial payload capabilities.

Tackling Your Operational Challenges

Narrow Aisle Navigation Made Simple

Contemporary warehouses often feature narrow aisle designs to optimize storage density, with some operations featuring aisles as small as 8–10 feet. Stock chasers perform best in these environments, allowing operators to move easily without the space limitations that restrict more commonplace material handling equipment.

Ergonomic Design Reduces Worker Fatigue

The upright operator platform lessens the physical strain caused by constant entering and exiting with seated vehicles. Optional ladders provide safe access to elevated shelving, eliminating the need for additional ladder fetching and setup. This integrated approach greatly slims down the time and effort devoted to above-shoulder picking tasks.

Enhanced Productivity Through Speed and Agility

With speeds of up to eight mph and superior agility, stock chasers make possible faster order completion compared to walking or using bulky alternatives. The compact design allows operators to turn quickly, cutting travel time between pick locations and enabling more efficient route planning.

Real-World Applications and Benefits

Improved Order Picking Efficiency

Order picking comprises more than half of average warehouse man hours and nearly 55% of operating expenses. Stock chasers tackle this issue by supplying a platform that accompanies the picker, eliminating repeated trips between storage locations and staging areas. Large cargo decks offer space for multiple orders or bulk items while remaining stable during transport.

Cost-Effective Alternative to Traditional Equipment

While reach trucks and very narrow aisle lift trucks have key uses in high-lift tasks, stock chasers offer a lower-cost answer for ground-level and low-elevation picking activities. Their lower acquisition cost, reduced maintenance requirements due to simpler systems, and minimal operator training make them an appealing solution for businesses wanting immediate productivity improvements.

Integration with Modern Warehouse Operations

Stock chasers complement existing warehouse management systems and can support various picking strategies. Whether you use batch, wave, or zone picking, these vehicles are flexible enough to enable optimized picking flows. Their compact size allows several units to operate simultaneously without the traffic congestion issues common with larger equipment.

Making the Implementation Decision

When considering stock chasers for your operation, factor in your current pain points with space, efficiency, and ergonomics. These vehicles particularly benefit facilities with lots of picking activity, multiple SKUs requiring frequent access, and tight spaces that prohibit larger pieces of equipment.

The Motrec stock chasers available through Raymond West provide proven durability and capability, with payloads from 500–2,000 lbs and the ability to tow up to 12,000 lbs. This range of options makes them ideal for various applications beyond basic order picking, including parts transport, maintenance tasks, and light manufacturing applications.

Transform Your Warehouse Operations Today

Stock chasers are more than a simple warehouse tool, they're a smart investment in productivity, safety, and profitability.

Ready to explore how stock chasers can revolutionize your material handling operations? Contact Raymond West today to go over your needs and see how Motrec stock chasers can deliver measurable improvements to your operational efficiency.

Raymond West's Phoenix facility serves the entire Phoenix Metro area, including Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, Goodyear, Tolleson, Peoria and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Phoenix Material Handling Equipment Supplier

2659 E Magnolia St
Phoenix, AZ 85034
(602) 275-2228