End trucks are integral components of a crane system that help in loading and unloading equipment such as hoists and overhead trolleys.

You can select a hand-operated end truck or a motor-driven end truck depending on the power supply for your material handling system. You can also select overhead crane end trucks or under running end trucks as per the layout of your material handling system.

Some important parameters you must consider before buying end trucks are:

1. Required load carrying capacity of the end truck
2. Beam length and space available for the end truck
3. Types of end trucks
4. Required voltage and current for end trucks motors

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy an end truck from a reputable end trucks manufacturer

Once you know the material handling requirements and have enough end trucks information, check out available end trucks from reputable end truck manufacturers.

I recommend: Hoist & Crane Systems, a reputable manufacturer of material handling equipment, provides bridge crane end trucks, drives and gearboxes. Saturn Overhead Equipment designs and manufactures underhung end trucks for single or double girder bridge cranes. You can buy gantry crane end trucks at ACI Hoist & Crane, a manufacturer of top-quality hoists, rigging and crane components. Additionally, Harrington Hoists, a hoist and crane manufacturer, provides motor driven end trucks suitable for heavy load applications. Modular Crane is another end trucks supplier that offers end trucks for single and double girder overhead cranes.

Buy an end truck from an end trucks distributor or retailer

You can compare end trucks based on their features and prices at distributors or retailers' websites.

I recommend: Hoist Warehouse Material Handling distributes hoist and crane components, including end trucks. Nationwide Industrial Supply is a retailer of material handling equipment that also offers end trucks. You can buy end trucks and related products at Loadhook.com. ThomasNet and GlobalSpec provide a list of end trucks manufacturers.

Buy specialty or customized end trucks

Buy a specialty or customized end truck if standard products available in the market do not meet your requirements. However, review the cost of end trucks and perform a cost-value analysis when you order a customized end truck.

I recommend: Material Handling Systems designs and manufactures end trucks as per customers’ requirements. ACE World Companies is a manufacturer of customized material handling systems including end trucks. Chester Hoist, a manufacturer of hoists and related equipment, provides customized hoist end trucks for your material handling system.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ensure that your end trucks comply with standards set by Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA).
• •  Install end trucks accessories, such as derailing prevention devices and roller slip prevention components, to avoid accidents.