Guide to Utility Carts

Warehouses are often at the cutting edge of technology, but one thing remains utterly unavoidable. A human being, at some point, has to move supplies or products on and off the shelves, around the floor or into waiting trucks.

The proper utility cart, whether for an industrial, office or health care setting, is the key to efficient use of labor. Utility carts come in a wide variety of sizes and uses, including folding utility carts, plastic carts and materials handling carts.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

1. What kind of utility cart is appropriate for each task
2. How to select and price a utility cart or materials handling cart
3. When a plastic cart is a good choice
4. How to choose material handling carts

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

A utility cart must fit the job first

Utility carts are basic, but the details make them productive according to each task. A plastic cart with a lip is good for small parts, for instance, but a flat utility cart is better for carrying heavy tools. A wire utility cart is best for hospitals, since they are easier to clean, while materials handling carts are often specially made for the job it performs.

I recommend: See a broad selection of carts at vendors of industrial carts and utility carts Uline, CLD Handling Systems, and Global Industrial.

An industrial cart is the most heavy-duty of utility carts

In factory or heavy-duty warehouse settings, nothing but the strongest materials will hold up over time, compared to plastic carts, for instance. Here, the trade off when buying industrial carts is ease-of-use for durability of the utility cart.

I recommend: Take a look at heavy steel utility carts at industrial cart vendors DC Graves and Big Dog Warehouse.

A folding utility cart is a good choice in tight work space

Hospitals, schools and other institutional settings often require the occasional use of industrial carts and materials handling carts. Yet they often have to be stored away quickly.

I recommend: Consider a sturdy yet space-efficient folding utility cart. Check out LK Goodwin and HandTrucks.com for some choices on folding utility carts.

Material handling carts are specialized by industry, task

Dirty sheets, biohazard waste, hotel room supplies, any job stocking or cleaning requires often specially built carts for moving to and from each task. Materials handling carts come in dozens of varieties, each designed for the industry and task at hand.

I recommend: See a selection of materials handling carts at Materials Handling Solutions and The Material Handling Store. See the additional Business.com resources at directory pages on dollies, roller dollies, appliance hand trucks, and stair climbing hand trucks.

A plastic cart is often the cheapest, but plastic carts can be durable, too

A rigid plastic cart is lighter and easier to handle but often just as tough as some metal industrial carts. They are best, though, for light industrial and cleaning work, where the job involves pushing a utility cart nearly all day. Plastic carts save back strain.

I recommend: A selection of plastic carts can be seen at plastic cart and utility cart vendor Grainger, ProMed, and Gilmore Kramer.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Budget carefully. A flimsy plastic cart, while cheaper, will not last in places where an industrial cart is a better choice. An overbuilt, metal utility cart could be too hard to use in an office or healthcare situation.
• Folding utility carts are a great choice where a utility cart is an occasional need, but they are not best moving heavy items.
• Material handling carts, like a plastic cart or utility cart, should be matched to its task carefully for maximum effectiveness.

The official source of Utility Carts is the Utility Carts page at Business.com