Drive-In Rack Systems in Milwaukee, WI
Drive-in rack removes aisles from the equation entirely. The forklift drives inside the structure and sets pallets on continuous rails, which packs more positions into a given footprint than pushback, flow, or selective ever will. The cost is access: only the pallets at the open end of the lane are reachable until you work through the ones in front.
That makes it the right call for large volumes of a small number of SKUs - bulk buffer stock, seasonal inventory, freezer product - and the wrong call the moment SKU variety climbs. Drive-in loads and unloads from one end for LIFO; drive-through is open at both ends for FIFO, at the cost of a few positions and a second access aisle.
We lay out drive-in around your specific lift truck's dimensions and your SKU depth, then put the position count next to a selective plan of the same footprint so the density gain is a number, not a sales claim.
How Drive-In Rack Works
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 daily forklift traffic makes protection and clear operating space important.
Where It Fits Best
Common Design Questions
- What forklift will enter the lanes, and what are its exact dimensions?
- How many pallets do you hold per SKU?
- Do you need LIFO, or does the product require drive-through FIFO?
- What's the clear height and floor condition in the storage area?
- How many total pallet positions are you trying to reach?
What a Project Includes
The design starts with the forklift, not the rack. Mast height, overall width, load backrest, and turning clearance decide lane dimensions, so truck specifications get collected before anything is drawn.
Next we look at SKU depth. Drive-in rewards deep lanes of a single product and punishes variety - if a lane never fills, you've built an expensive way to store less than you could have with selective. Where the inventory profile is mixed, we'll usually recommend a hybrid: selective at the pick face, drive-in behind it for reserve.
The quote itemizes frames, rails, rail supports, guide rails, and column protection, with a CAD drawing showing lane depth, rail elevations, and total positions. Installation partners anchor, plumb, and align every rail run, then verify a loaded pallet travels the full lane before handing the system over.
Drive-in lanes need protection suited to the trucks using them. We specify guide rails and guards with the new system and review operating clearances before installation.
Phone consultation
CAD layout
Itemized quote
Delivery & installation
Get a Drive-In Rack Quote
Send the basics and we will come back with a layout and pricing. Prefer to talk? Call (414) 260-3593.
What's Included:
- Free warehouse consultation
- CAD layout drawings
- Itemized project quote
- Rack type recommendations
- Installation timeline
Drive-In Rack Questions We Hear Most
Drive-In Rack by Service Area
Delivery and installation across southeastern Wisconsin.
Other Rack Systems We Supply
Pallet Rack
Every pallet reachable, every time. The baseline we size everything else against.
Pushback Rack
Two to six pallets deep from one aisle, without giving up much reach.
Pallet Flow Rack
Load one side, pick the other, and let gravity enforce first in, first out.
Cantilever Rack
Arms with nothing in front of them, built for lumber, pipe, and anything a pallet can't hold.
Carton Flow Rack
Cases advance to the picker instead of the picker hunting for cases.
Where We Work
Located in Milwaukee, we serve the entire Milwaukee metro with industrial pallet racks and warehouse storage solutions.
Milwaukee Pallet Rack
Address
7311 W Greenfield Ave.
Ste 316
Milwaukee, WI 53214
Phone
(414) 260-3593Business Hours
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Ready to Price Drive-In Rack?
Call (414) 260-3593 or request a quote and we will start a layout.