Drive-In & Drive-Thru Pallet Rack in Kansas City
By removing nearly every aisle, drive-in pallet rack makes room for deep storage lanes in Kansas City warehouses. Forklifts drive straight into the rack structure and set pallets on rails along each side, filling lanes several loads deep and several levels high. No other pallet system packs more product into the same space.
Drive-In Pallet Rack for Costly Cold Space in Kansas City
Every square foot inside a freezer or cooler costs money to build, insulate and chill. Kansas City's strong cold-storage demand makes that cost hard to ignore.
Drive-in rack puts more pallets inside the same insulated box than any other system, which means less air to cool per pallet stored. Grocery and food distributors throughout the metro use it for frozen goods, ice and bulk refrigerated product.
Drive-In Pallet Rack vs. Drive-Thru Pallet Rack
The two look similar but move product differently.
Drive-In (LIFO)
Lanes are closed at the back. Forklifts load and unload from the same face, so the last pallet in is the first out. Good for product that does not need strict rotation.
Drive-Thru (FIFO)
Lanes are open at both ends. Load from one side, retrieve from the other. This needs aisle space on both faces but rotates stock.
Drive-In Pallet Rack for Large Runs of the Same SKU
Drive-in rack works when each lane holds one product. If you carry hundreds of pallets of a few items, it is a strong fit. If you carry many SKUs with a few pallets each, selective pallet racking or pushback rack will serve you better.
Beverage, frozen food, seasonal consumer goods and building products often meet the profile. Distributors at Logistics Park Kansas City and CenterPoint receive full rail loads of one item, which is exactly how drive-in lanes like to be filled.
Fitting Drive-In to the Building
Height and column spacing shape the design.
Tall 32 to 40 ft clear buildings at KCI Intermodal BusinessCentre and in southern Johnson County support many levels, so a single lane can hold a large count of pallets.
In older 18 to 24 ft buildings in Independence, Raytown or the Fairfax Industrial District, drive-in still gains density by eliminating aisles, even with fewer levels.
Underground space in SubTropolis and Lenexa has a 16 ft ceiling and rock pillars. Drive-in lanes there are short and planned between pillars, and the steady 65 to 72 degree temperature helps products that need a stable environment.
Operator Skill and Rack Protection
Forklifts operate inside the rack, so driver training matters. Guide rails at the floor, upright protectors at lane entries and good lighting all reduce impacts.
Freezer work adds challenges: frost on rails, cold-stiffened pallets and bundled-up operators. We specify components and clearances for cold rooms rather than reusing a dry-warehouse design.
Pairing With Other Systems
Many cold rooms combine drive-in for deep runs with pallet flow rack for dated product that must rotate. Pick areas outside the freezer often use carton flow rack for case orders.
Warehouse Equipment & Supplies Co. has supplied and installed warehouse equipment since 1997, and one project with us can include racking, offices, mezzanines, shelving and partitions.
Scheduling and Next Steps
Freezer installs are often phased so the room keeps operating. In unconditioned dry buildings, hot, humid summers and cold winters both affect crew planning, and spring storm season can delay freight. Our team handles the permit side for you.
Read more on our national drive-in pallet rack page or visit the Kansas City overview.
Questions Before Choosing Drive-In
How many pallets of each SKU do you hold at peak, and how many SKUs share the room? Does product need strict rotation, or can the newest load ship first?
Those answers decide between drive-in, drive-thru or a mix with flow lanes. We also confirm forklift width, mast height and pallet condition, since all three affect lane width and rail elevation.
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
Is drive-in rack the best choice for a Kansas City freezer?
When you store large runs of the same SKU, it usually provides the most pallets per square foot of cold space.
What's the difference between drive-in and drive-thru?
Drive-in loads and unloads from one face (LIFO). Drive-thru loads from one side and unloads from the other (FIFO).
Can drive-in rack go in underground space like SubTropolis?
Yes, with short lanes planned between rock pillars and levels set to the roughly 16 ft ceiling.
How do we limit forklift damage inside the lanes?
Floor guide rails, entry protectors, good lighting and operator training all help.
Ready to Get Started with Drive-In Pallet Rack in Kansas City?
Contact our Kansas City team today for a free consultation and quote