Drive-In & Drive-Thru Pallet Rack in Atlanta, GA
For Atlanta operations storing large runs of one SKU, drive-in pallet rack removes nearly every aisle. Forklifts drive straight into the lanes and set pallets on rails, giving you the densest pallet storage available for large runs of one SKU.
Drive-In Pallet Rack for Atlanta Coolers and Freezers
Refrigerated space costs more per square foot to build, power and maintain than any other warehouse area. In a freezer, every empty aisle is cold air you are paying to keep cold.
That is why drive-in shows up so often in Atlanta's growing cold-storage market, including food distribution buildings in South Fulton near Hartsfield-Jackson and along the I-75 South corridor in Henry County. Packing more pallets into the same cold box can delay or avoid an expansion.
Drive-In Pallet Rack vs. Drive-Thru Rack
A drive-in system has one entry face. The first pallet loaded is the last one out, so it fits product with long shelf life or lots that ship together.
Drive-thru rack is open at both ends. You load from one side and unload from the other, which gives first-in, first-out flow. It needs an aisle at each end, so it gives up a little density for better rotation.
When Another System Makes More Sense
If you carry many SKUs with only a few pallets each, lanes will sit partly empty. In that case, pushback rack or pallet flow rack usually gives better access with less wasted space.
Drive-In Pallet Rack for Large Same-SKU Runs
Drive-in pays off when a single item fills a whole lane. Think seasonal beverage inventory, frozen food production runs, or bulk building materials and flooring staged for regional delivery.
Distributors near the Norfolk Southern Austell terminal in Douglasville and Lithia Springs, or close to the CSX Fairburn ramp, often receive product in volume by rail and need a dense place to hold it.
Design Details That Matter
Lane width must suit the forklift and the pallet, with enough clearance to drive in without striking uprights. Rails need to match your pallet bottom boards, and import pallets from the Port of Savannah often vary.
We size lane depth to your lot sizes. A lane that holds eight pallets of an item you buy in lots of five will never fill. Height follows clear height, which ranges widely between a 40-foot bulk building in Stockbridge and an older Fulton Industrial building.
Driver Training and Protection
Drivers work inside the rack structure, so steady operators and good guidance matter. We recommend entry guides and upright protectors at each lane opening.
We walk your team through loading and unloading sequence at hand-off, because most drive-in damage comes from rushed entries.
Installing in Cold Rooms and Summer Heat
Freezer installs run in shorter shifts with cold-rated equipment. Dry warehouse installs in July call for early starts and staged steel. We plan both around your operating schedule, and our team handles the permit side for the customer.
We are Warehouse Equipment & Supplies Co., in the business of supplying and installing equipment since 1997, and one crew plan can cover racking, offices, mezzanines, shelving and partitions.
If you are weighing drive-in against an expansion, send your cold room dimensions, lot sizes and truck type. We will lay out lanes and show the pallet count side by side.
Compare specs on the national drive-in pallet rack page, see our Atlanta service area, or explore selective racking and carton flow for other zones in the building.
What Customers Say About Us
“I have used Warehouse Equipment & Supplies for two pallet racking projects, and I have found their service to be exceptional. They are highly responsive and communicate throughout the process. Their pricing is also very competitive. 10/10 would recommend working with this company for any of your warehouse needs.”
Kade Kirkendall
2 years ago
“Warehouse Equipment is one of our best vendors that we work with at Armor-IImak. They are family owned and the most respect, upfront honest vendors you will work with. They have never been late on a project and are extremely dependable!!!”
Ryan Long
“W.E.S is always helpful and go above and beyond to assure your project is done on time and on budget. I would highly recommend them for any project you have. Always professional and courteous.”
James Hubbard
“It was a great decision to hire Warehouse Equipment for the new racking project in CVG, Ohio. Chad and his team provided an excellent service, and they even improve the delivery and installation dates, allowing the client to load the space earlier than expected. I will recommend using them for warehouse and racking projects.”
Eva Fernandez Cendan
“Best price of all the quotes that we received. They were on time, worked very quickly, swept the floors under the racks that they took down, and helped to store excess materials. Did a great job.”
Greg Reis
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Atlanta cold-storage operators choose drive-in rack?
Refrigerated space is expensive, and drive-in removes most aisles so more pallets fit in the same cold box.
What is the difference between drive-in and drive-thru?
Drive-in loads and unloads from one face (last-in, first-out). Drive-thru is open at both ends so product flows first-in, first-out, at the cost of an extra aisle.
Will drive-in work if we carry many different SKUs?
Usually not. Drive-in works best for deep runs of one item. Many SKUs with few pallets each are better served by pushback or pallet flow.
Do import pallets cause problems in drive-in lanes?
They can. Rails must suit your pallet bottoms, so we review the pallet sizes you receive, including mixed import pallets, before setting rail spacing.
Ready to Get Started with Drive-In Pallet Rack in Atlanta?
Contact our Atlanta team today for a free consultation and quote