How much floor space does drive-in rack actually save?

Trading aisles for lanes typically shrinks the footprint for the same pallet count by roughly a third, sometimes more in a taller building. We give you the side-by-side numbers in the layout rather than 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 - highest density. Drive-through is open at both ends and allows FIFO, at the cost of some positions and a second access aisle.

Does drive-in slow down put-away?

It can, since the truck has to travel into the lane for every pallet. It works best for bulk moves rather than piece picking - pairing it with a selective pick face keeps daily order fulfillment from bogging down.

How do you keep lift trucks from damaging the rack?

Floor-mounted guide rails steer the truck through the lane, and column guards plus rail-end protection absorb the contact that still happens. Both get specified with the system up front, not bolted on after the first impact.

Can a Fowler drive-in rack project be phased around fruit packing operations near Adams Avenue?

Fowler sits on Route 99 between Fresno and Selma, with agricultural packing and food businesses linked to the regional freight corridor. Packaging, finished pallets, and outgoing-load staging can compete for space even in a relatively small operation. Agree the work zones, inventory transfers, access windows, and handover sequence before starting. Phasing is evaluated against your current storage needs and site conditions; uninterrupted operation and a particular completion date cannot be assumed until the scope and approvals are known.

Fowler, California

Drive-In Rack in Fowler, CA

A Fowler processor holding many matching reserve pallets may benefit from deeper lanes. Drive-in should be sized to actual batch quantities so the rest of the building remains available for mixed packaging and daily dispatch. Fowler sits on Route 99 between Fresno and Selma, with agricultural packing and food businesses linked to the regional freight corridor. Packaging, finished pallets, and outgoing-load staging can compete for space even in a relatively small operation. Drive-In Rack in Fowler, CA starts with deep reserve storage for repeated pallets of a limited number of products. We review truck width and mast clearance, pallet dimensions, rail spacing, and pallets held per SKU before recommending a configuration.

You get a free design consultation, a CAD plan, and an itemized quote for your actual building, not an assumed warehouse footprint. The driver enters the lane, so clearances and protection matter. Drive-in uses LIFO; drive-through access can support a different rotation plan. Call (559) 620-5206 to discuss the constraint that is holding up your next receipt or order.

(559) 620-5206

Why Fowler Warehouses Work With Us

Fowler sits on Route 99 between Fresno and Selma, with agricultural packing and food businesses linked to the regional freight corridor. Packaging, finished pallets, and outgoing-load staging can compete for space even in a relatively small operation. Start with the production-to-dispatch handoff rather than an assumed warehouse size. Around Adams Avenue and Merced Street, check the real loading approach and reserve enough open floor for batch changes instead of filling every gap with steel.

For drive-in rack, that means checking truck width and mast clearance, pallet dimensions, rail spacing, and pallets held per SKU against the way your Fowler team actually works. The driver enters the lane, so clearances and protection matter. Drive-in uses LIFO; drive-through access can support a different rotation plan. We compare the storage arrangement with the receiving, production, and dispatch space it leaves available, so a higher count does not come at the expense of daily access.

Fresno Pallet Racks connects your project with Warehouse Equipment & Supplies Co.. You can discuss the Fowler plan with one contact, ask for a revised layout, and see the scope in writing before ordering. A free design consultation should explain both the benefit and the tradeoff of drive-in rack; it should not pressure you into a system that mismatches your inventory. Installation timing and any later additions are planned around the actual site and approved configuration.

Free warehouse consultation

CAD layout with position counts

Installation by trusted installation partners

Drive-in pallet rack lanes fitted with continuous rails

Drive-in warehouse racking loaded with bulk pallets

Operations We Rack Around Here

Local industrial and transport corridors include State Route 99, Adams Avenue, Merced Street.

Fruit packing

Food processing

Agricultural distribution

How Drive-In Rack Works

Deep storage lanes replace individual access aisles; the forklift enters the structure to handle bulk pallets.

Continuous rails, not beams

Pallets rest on rails carried by upright frames rather than individual beam levels, so a lane accepts pallet after pallet at the same elevation.

The truck enters the lane

The driver travels inside the bay to place or retrieve each load. Lane width, rail height, and mast clearance get dimensioned to that specific truck, not a generic one.

One open end or two

One open end gives LIFO and the highest density available. Two open ends give FIFO with slightly fewer positions, since each lane now needs clearance from both sides.

Guarding built into the design

Guide rails, column guards, and rail-end protection are part of the spec from the start, because a lane that takes daily contact from forklifts is a lane that wears out unprotected components.

What a Drive-In Rack Project Includes

Your Fowler drive-in rack project starts with a practical inventory and building review. We collect truck width and mast clearance, pallet dimensions, rail spacing, and pallets held per SKU, usable ceiling height, column locations, door positions, and the current traffic pattern. Start with the production-to-dispatch handoff rather than an assumed warehouse size. Around Adams Avenue and Merced Street, check the real loading approach and reserve enough open floor for batch changes instead of filling every gap with steel. Photos and an existing drawing help start the conversation; dimensions and conditions must be confirmed before an installation plan is finalized.

The CAD layout shows the storage arrangement, operating aisles, level or lane elevations, and the usable position count. We review deep reserve storage for repeated pallets of a limited number of products against an alternative where a comparison helps. The itemized quote identifies the system components, specified capacities, protection, and installation scope. Our team handles the permit side for you.

Delivery and work zones are planned around the access at your State Route 99 or Adams Avenue building. Installation follows the approved configuration, with frames or bases anchored as specified, connections checked, and alignment verified. Systems with moving carts, rollers, or wheel beds are checked with representative loads. The driver enters the lane, so clearances and protection matter. Drive-in uses LIFO; drive-through access can support a different rotation plan. Your team receives the agreed configuration and capacity information, a layout to use for later changes, and a clear contact for follow-up questions. Do not change elevations or loads without checking whether the ratings and approvals still apply.

High volume of a small number of SKUs

Seasonal or buffer inventory held in bulk

Cold storage and freezer rooms where cube matters most

Product too fragile to floor-stack more than two high

Buildings where floor space, not height, is the binding constraint

Call (559) 620-5206

Recent Installations

Racking projects completed for warehouses across Fresno and the Central Valley.

View More Projects

Get a Drive-In Rack Quote for Your Fowler Warehouse

Send the basics and we will follow up with a layout and pricing. Prefer to talk it through? Call (559) 620-5206.

Fresno Pallet Racks

5730 N First St

Ste 105 #252

Fresno, CA 93710

(559) 620-5206

Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

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