Machine Transport Products Become More Versatile

Vending operators have more tools available for moving machines than they did several years ago. Powered stair climbers, in addition to moving the machines up stairs, allow machines to be moved on and off trucks.

In addition, hydraulically-driven elevating beds now allow machines to be moved from a warehouse loading dock onto trucks without having to be manually lifted.

Many operators still rely on pallet jacks, dollies and ramps to move machines onto trailers. But powered hand trucks and hydraulic elevating trailers make the job faster, easier and safer.

Bruce Adams, owner of Rainbow Vending Inc. in Denver, Colo., is able to move machines by himself using a battery-powered Lectro Truck hand truck. The ease of use has enabled him to expand into the equipment transport business, handling moves for other vending operators.

With a 24-foot trailer and a battery-powered hand truck, Adams can handle eight deliveries by himself in one day.

He also has a smaller, 16-foot trailer that can hold four machines. The smaller trailer requires no steps for moving machines onto it. He simply climbs over the back of the trailer.

The Lectro Truck has a second set of wheels on it that fold out to form a tripod, giving Adams additional leverage. He can use his leg for even more leverage. "It gives me the balance that I need," he said. When the second set of wheels is not needed, it collapses back into the main unit.

"With the extension handles on the tripod, you can handle a 1,100-pound machine with no problem," he said. "It's a piece of equipment I'm extremely comfortable with. You can lay that machine almost on its side by using the motors to balance."

When moving a machine up steps, Adams said it is always important to know how strong the steps are, particularly if they are wooden.
The Lectro Truck features automatic brakes, allowing the mover to stop quickly if necessary, noted Daryl Mowrer, service manager for Vendnet, part of the Wittern Group and a Lectro Truck distributor. Mowrer said the key benefit is being able to balance the load while moving. "Balancing the load is the key to the whole thing," he said.

Balance is key in moving machines up steps
"When you move machines, if you have to balance it going upstairs, you're always in a position of losing it," noted Mark Dalton, president of Steprider Inc., which makes hand trucks specially designed for vending machines. Dalton said his company's hand trucks can adjust so that the machine moves at the same angle as the steps. In this situation, one person can move a piece of equipment up steps, and there is no need for heavy lifting or pulling.

Shane Mister, operations manager at Daniels Vending, a 12-route operation based in Trappe, Md., said the Nortech hand truck fits easily onto the back of a pick-up truck and allows him to move machines single handedly.

For moving machines up steps, Mister uses a motorized stair climber.

Mister also devised a 2-inch metal frame that he welds onto a standard pallet jack that extends the jack's height. This allows him to lift a machine up higher.

4-wheel dolly addresses high clearance
John DeSimone, who operates Fresh Vend in Fort Worth, Texas, said the Easy Lift 4-wheel dolly from Nortech allows him to move a machine that requires high clearance; something a pallet jack would not allow him to do. "You can pick the machine up off the floor and it instantly moves any direction you want," DeSimone said. "If you have to turn corners, you don't need to lean it over."

The dolly works well for snack machines and other machines with good clearance from the floor.

DeSimone uses an appliance dolly for extra heavy machines. The appliance dolly has a second set of wheels that provide extra support.

DeSimone does not have to deliver equipment since he has the machine manufacturers deliver machines to the accounts. He has a unique situation in that most of his machines are in large locations and usually only have to move from one break area to another.