Envision this: your warehouse floor is buzzing with activity, yet your order pickers are stuck in a cycle of inefficiency. Employees move seemingly endless miles through narrow aisles, are forced to climb ladders over and over, and fight with bulky equipment that was never designed for current high-density storage facilities. Stock chasers offer a focused answer to these operational pain points, transforming how your team moves through, retrieves, and transports materials in space-constrained facilities.

What Exactly Is a Stock Chaser?

A stock chaser is a compact, stand-up electric vehicle built for order picking and material movement in tight warehouse aisles. In contrast to traditional forklifts that need a wide turning circle and substantial aisle space, these nimble workhorses maneuver through spaces as tight as standard doorways while offering impressive payload capabilities.

Tackling Your Operational Issues

Narrow Aisle Navigation Made Simple

Current warehouses often feature narrow aisle designs to optimize storage density, with some facilities featuring aisles as small as 8–10 feet. Stock chasers excel in these environments, permitting operators to move easily without the space limitations that hinder more commonplace material handling equipment.

Ergonomic Design Reduces Worker Fatigue

The stand-up operator platform helps alleviate the physical strain caused by constant getting on and off with sit-down equipment. Optional ladders offer safe access to high shelving, removing the need for additional ladder fetching and setup. This all-in-one design greatly slims down the time and effort devoted to above-shoulder picking tasks.

Enhanced Productivity Through Speed and Agility

With travel speeds up to eight mph and excellent turning capability, stock chasers enable faster order completion relative to walking or using awkward alternatives. The small footprint allows operators to turn quickly, cutting travel time between pick locations and allowing for more efficient route planning.

Real-World Applications and Benefits

Improved Order Picking Efficiency

Order picking represents more than half of average warehouse man hours and up to 55% of operating costs. Stock chasers target this challenge by providing a platform that accompanies the picker, eliminating repeated trips between storage locations and staging areas. Spacious cargo decks give room for numerous orders or bulk goods while remaining stable during transport.

Cost-Effective Alternative to Traditional Equipment

While reach trucks and narrow aisle forklifts serve important functions in high-lift scenarios, stock chasers offer a cost-effective solution for ground-level and low-level picking activities. Their lower acquisition cost, reduced maintenance requirements due to simpler systems, and minimal operator training make them an appealing solution for operations looking for a quick productivity boost.

Integration with Modern Warehouse Operations

Stock chasers work with existing warehouse management systems and can fit into various picking strategies. Whether you use batch, wave, or zone picking, these vehicles adapt to enable optimized picking flows. Their compact size allows several units to work together at once without the traffic congestion problems typical of larger machines.

Making the Implementation Decision

When considering stock chasers for your warehouse, consider your existing pain points with space, efficiency, and ergonomics. These vehicles should be considered by facilities with many picking cycles, multiple SKUs requiring regular access, and space limitations that rule out bulkier pieces of equipment.

Motrec stock chasers available through Raymond West provide proven reliability and performance, with payloads from 500–2,000 lbs and the ability to tow up to 12,000 lbs. This range of options makes them well-suited for various applications beyond basic order picking, including parts transport, service operations, and manufacturing plant support.

Transform Your Warehouse Operations Today

Stock chasers go beyond standard equipment, they're a key asset for efficiency, safety, and your bottom line.

Ready to explore how stock chasers can revolutionize your material handling operations? Contact Raymond West today to review your needs and find out how Motrec stock chasers can provide measurable boosts in your warehouse efficiency.

Raymond West's Riverside service area includes Redlands, Colton, Rialto, Bloomington, Moreno Valley, Hemet, Perris, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Coachella Valley and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Riverside Material Handling Equipment Supplier

Riverside, CA
(951) 384-2444