Drive-In Rack in North Carolina
Drive-in rack trades selectivity for density. Forklifts drive directly into the rack structure to place and retrieve pallets, stacking them 5-10 deep in a single lane. If you store large quantities of the same SKU and don't need to access every pallet individually, drive-in makes your square footage work harder. North Carolina's warehouse market has surged as the Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham metros have grown into major economic centers. The I-85 corridor between Charlotte and Greensboro is the primary warehouse belt. The state is also a growing player in cold chain logistics, food processing, and pharmaceutical distribution.
Learn more about drive-in rack in North Carolina ↓Drive-In Rack Suppliers in North Carolina (4)
AR Racking Inc.
International manufacturer of industrial racking and storage systems with US operations in Charlotte, NC. Part of the Arania Group. Designs, manufactures, and installs a full range of storage solutions with a 5-year quality warranty.
Carolina Material Handling Inc
Greensboro-based material handling supplier selling new and used pallet rack systems conveyors and modular offices across the Southeast.
Material Handling Solutions LLC
Material Handling Solutions provides pallet rack design sales and installation for warehouse and distribution facilities.
SSI Schaefer
SSI Schaefer is a global leader in warehouse and logistics systems providing racking shelving automated storage and retrieval systems and warehouse management software. Founded in Germany in 1937.
When to Choose Drive-In Rack
- ✓You store large volumes of a single SKU per lane (bulk storage)
- ✓LIFO (last in, first out) inventory rotation is acceptable for your product
- ✓You're running out of warehouse space and need to increase storage density
- ✓Cold storage — drive-in is the dominant system in freezer warehouses because every cubic foot of cooled space is expensive
- ✓Seasonal storage where you fill up and empty out entire lanes at once
Key Specs to Ask About
- •Lane depth (how many pallets deep — typically 5-10, sometimes more)
- •Pallet weight (affects rail gauge and upright sizing)
- •Clear height (drive-in can go 30+ feet with structural frames)
- •Rail type and profile (standard vs. heavy-duty, affects pallet guide-in)
- •Entry/exit configuration — drive-in (one entry) vs. drive-through (entries on both ends)
- •Column protection — essential, since forklifts are operating inside the structure
How It Compares
| Factor | Drive-In Rack | Push Back Rack |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory rotation | LIFO | LIFO |
| Max depth | 10+ pallets | 2-6 pallets |
| Forklift enters rack? | Yes — drives into the structure | No — loads from the aisle face |
| Damage risk | High — forklifts inside the rack | Low — no entry needed |
| SKUs per bay | 1 SKU per lane (ideally) | 1 SKU per lane, but more lanes per bay |
| Cost per position | $ (lower per position) | $$ (carts and rails add cost) |
Both are LIFO systems. Drive-in goes deeper and costs less per position, but forklifts operate inside the rack (more damage). Push back is shallower but loads from the aisle face — faster, safer, and better for operations with more SKUs.
North Carolina produces more sweet potatoes than any other state — nearly 60% of the national crop. The climate-controlled storage facilities that keep those sweet potatoes from going bad between September harvest and year-round consumption are engineering marvels hiding in plain sight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between drive-in and drive-through rack?
How many pallets deep should my drive-in lanes be?
Is drive-in rack more expensive than selective?
How many drive-in rack suppliers are in North Carolina?
A fully loaded drive-in rack system can hold more weight per square foot than the foundation of the Empire State Building was designed to support.
Coverage Map
Drive-In Rack in Nearby States
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