Utility Carts

Overview

Utility carts can be anything from pallet trucks to a standard rolling cart with shelves. Small business may use utility carts to transport mail, file, boxes of paper and even some office equipment. Manufacturing and industrial settings typically use utility carts for large and bulky items, which are sometimes part of the manufacturing process.

How it Works

There are different types of utility carts. Figure out your needs first. You can make the best use of utility carts only by purchasing the right cart for the job. Choosing the right utility cart can make a difficult job easy. On the other hand, choosing the wrong cart can not only make transporting an item difficult, but also dangerous. Less expensive utility carts are designed to hold less weight and bulk. Using a cheap cart to transport an item that is too large or too heavy for the cart can cause the cart to collapse or tip, which can injure the person pushing the cart or anyone nearby. It is necessary to be sure that the combined weight of the items you transport fall under the weight limit of the cart.

Ergonomic utility carts are designed so that the user can operate them with minimum strength. They roll more easily and can be turned and moved using less force than standard carts. These can help prevent workplace injury and are especially good to transport several small items. Folding utility carts are typically used for lightweight materials within businesses where it is not beneficial to have the cart out ready at all times. These can be folded away and stored in a storeroom or closet. Such folding carts are not ideal for moving very heavy items like the ones you might find in an industrial setting. Most utility carts used in such settings are used so often that the folding feature is not necessary or recommended. You can get plastic utility carts for moving around lightweight type of material. Steel carts that are welded and not pieced together offer heavy-duty transportation for large and heavy items.

Benefits

The primary benefit of a utility cart is that you do not have to carry around everything with you. A good utility cart organizes and carries your supplies with ease. Most industrial supply companies offer utility carts. Companies that manufacture utility carts include Houseway, Global Products, and Liberty Industries.

Costs

The cost varies with the style and size of the utility carts.  A basic metal rolling cart can cost $20 or $30, while power pallet trucks with a 10,000 pound load capacity can cost $3,000 to $5,000. For simple rolling utility carts, the range of lightweight to heavy-duty costs $20 to $300. Large and sturdy carts can sometimes go beyond $300 depending on the design.

Timing

It becomes necessary to buy a cart when it is inconvenient to move items from one place to another manually. Especially if you have a bundle or large quantity of tools and items to move.