Picture this: your warehouse operation is buzzing with activity, yet your order pickers are caught in a cycle of inefficiency. Employees move long miles through narrow aisles, climb up and down ladders again and again, and fight with cumbersome equipment that wasn’t even designed for modern high-density storage environments. Stock chasers provide a focused answer to these pain points, transforming how your team gets around, retrieves, and carries materials in space-constrained facilities.

What Exactly Is a Stock Chaser?

A stock chaser is a compact, stand-on electric vehicle designed for order picking and material movement in narrow warehouse aisles. Different from traditional forklifts that need a wide turning circle and substantial aisle space, these nimble machines move through spaces as tight as ordinary doorways while delivering substantial payload limits.

Addressing Your Operational Issues

Narrow Aisle Navigation Made Simple

Contemporary warehouses often feature a narrow aisle approach to optimize storage density, with some facilities featuring aisles as narrow as 8–10 feet. Stock chasers excel in these environments, enabling operators to work efficiently in tight quarters that hinder traditional material handling equipment.

Ergonomic Design Reduces Worker Fatigue

The upright operator platform helps alleviate the physical strain associated with constant getting on and off with sit-down equipment. Optional ladders provide safe access to elevated shelving, removing the need for separate ladder fetching and setup. This integrated approach significantly slims down the time and effort required for above-shoulder picking tasks.

Enhanced Productivity Through Speed and Agility

With travel speeds up to 8 mph and excellent turning capability, stock chasers enable faster order completion than foot travel or using cumbersome alternatives. The compact design enables operators to turn on a dime, minimizing 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 typical warehouse man hours and up to 55% of operating expenses. Stock chasers target this issue by supplying a platform that moves with the operator, removing unnecessary walking. Ample cargo decks provide room for numerous orders or large items while maintaining stability in transit.

Cost-Effective Alternative to Traditional Equipment

While reach trucks and very narrow aisle lift trucks are necessary in high-lift tasks, stock chasers offer a budget-friendly approach for ground-level and low-level picking operations. Their lower acquisition cost, simple design, and minimal training needs make them an attractive option for businesses looking for immediate productivity improvements.

Integration with Modern Warehouse Operations

Stock chasers fit into existing warehouse management systems and can be integrated into various picking systems. Whether your operation uses zone picking, batch picking, or wave picking strategies, these vehicles are flexible enough to allow efficient workflow patterns. Their compact size allows multiple units to operate simultaneously without the traffic congestion problems common with larger equipment.

Making the Implementation Decision

When evaluating stock chasers for your warehouse, think about your current issues with order picking efficiency, aisle width constraints, and worker ergonomics. These vehicles are especially valuable for facilities with lots of picking activity, multiple SKUs requiring regular access, and tight spaces that rule out larger pieces of equipment.

The Motrec stock chasers offered by Raymond West offer proven performance and reliability, with capabilities ranging from 500 to 2,000 pounds payload capacity and towing capabilities up to 12,000 pounds. This range of options makes them suitable for more than order picking alone, including parts transport, service tasks, and manufacturing plant 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.

Curious about the impact of stock chasers on your workflow? Contact Raymond West today to go over your needs and see how Motrec stock chasers can provide measurable gains for your warehouse efficiency.

Raymond's Seattle service operation includes most of Western Washington, including Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Woodinville, Lynnwood, Everett, Tukwila, Renton, SeaTac, Burien, Kent, Federal Way, Fife, Sumner, Auburn, Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup, Olympia, Lacey and surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Seattle Material Handling Equipment Supplier

6607 S 287th St
Auburn, WA 98001
(253) 333-2100