Push Back Rack in California
Push back rack gives you 2-6 pallets deep in a LIFO configuration, all loaded and retrieved from the same aisle face. Each pallet sits on a nested cart; when you push a new pallet in, it nudges the ones behind it back on inclined rails. Pull a pallet out, and the next one rolls forward. No driving into the rack structure required. California is the largest warehouse market in the US by a wide margin. The Inland Empire (Riverside and San Bernardino counties) alone has more than 1.5 billion square feet of warehouse space. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handle roughly 40% of all US container imports, feeding a massive network of distribution centers stretching east through the IE.
Learn more about push back rack in California ↓Push Back Rack Suppliers in California (11)
A and A Boltless Rack and Shelving
Family-owned wholesale distributor with over 35 years experience providing pallet racks boltless shelving mezzanines cantilever systems and material handling equipment.
Advance Storage Products
Advance Storage Products is a leading manufacturer of push-back pallet rack and other high-density storage systems. They operate manufacturing facilities in California Georgia and Utah.
Bakersfield Rack & Shelving
Family-owned pallet rack and shelving distributor serving the Southern San Joaquin Valley, offering a large local stock of new and used warehouse racking with in-house CAD design, engineering, and installation. Sister operation to Fresno Rack & Shelving.
Catalina Integrative Solutions
20+ years designing and building warehouse storage solutions in Southern California. Creates compliant racking designs, performs seismic engineering calculations, manages permits, and coordinates with local authorities.
Fresno Rack & Shelving
The largest stocking distributor of warehouse pallet racks in the Western US, offering new and used racking with in-house design, permitting, and installation crews. Family-owned business founded in 1987 with over 30 years of expertise.
QMH Inc.
QMH provides pallet rack systems warehouse design and installation services from their Southern California facility.
Quality Material Handling
Full-service warehouse solutions provider and licensed General B Contractor offering warehouse design permitting installation and custom fabrication since 1991.
Structural Engineering & Design (SCED)
Full-service engineering firm led by Bob Sharifi specializing in seismic engineering for pallet racking. Over 20 years experience in initial design, testing, inspections, permitting submittals, and seismic compliance.
United Material Handling
United Material Handling manufactures pallet rack and storage systems from their state-of-the-art facility in Moreno Valley CA. They are CWB certified with advanced robotic welding capabilities.
Warehouse Solutions Inc
Southern California largest warehousing services company offering new and used pallet racking installation rack repair seismic inspections and permit services nationwide.
Ziglift Material Handling
Turnkey warehouse storage solutions provider founded in 2001, offering new and used pallet racking along with design, installation, and relocation services. Operates seven locations across four states.
When to Choose Push Back Rack
- ✓You need more density than selective rack but don't want forklifts driving into the structure
- ✓LIFO rotation is acceptable for your product
- ✓You have multiple SKUs that each need 2-6 pallets of depth
- ✓Your facility has limited aisle space and you need to maximize storage per face
- ✓You want a higher-density option that's less prone to forklift damage than drive-in
Key Specs to Ask About
- •Lane depth (2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 pallets deep)
- •Cart type and capacity (steel or poly, rated per pallet weight)
- •Rail pitch (slope angle — determines gravity return speed)
- •Pallet weight range (affects cart and rail sizing)
- •Rack frame type (structural is common for push back due to concentrated loads)
- •Safety stops and lane guides
California requires seismic engineering for push back rack installations. All rack must resist lateral seismic forces per ASCE 7 and local building code. Budget for heavier baseplates, larger anchor bolts, and stamped engineering.
How It Compares
| Factor | Push Back Rack | Pallet Flow Rack |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory rotation | LIFO (last in, first out) | FIFO (first in, first out) |
| Max depth | 2-6 pallets | 5-20+ pallets |
| Loading | Load and pick from same aisle face | Load from back, pick from front |
| Mechanism | Nested carts on inclined rails | Gravity roller conveyors |
| Cost per position | $$ | $$$ |
| Maintenance | Moderate — cart rails need occasional attention | Higher — rollers and brakes |
Push back is LIFO, shallower, and cheaper. Pallet flow is FIFO, goes deeper, and costs more. If your product has expiration dates or lot control requirements, pallet flow is the answer. If rotation doesn't matter and you just need density from the aisle face, push back is simpler.
California's economy is larger than India's. The Inland Empire east of LA has more warehouse square footage than Manhattan has office space — and it smells significantly less like hot garbage in August.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pallets deep can push back go?
Is push back rack safe?
Can I mix push back and selective in the same system?
How many push back rack suppliers are in California?
Does push back rack in California require seismic engineering?
Push back carts ride rails pitched at about 3 degrees — the same slope as a wheelchair ramp. But instead of a person in a chair, it's a 2,800 lb pallet acting like a gravity-powered bobsled.
Coverage Map
Related Services
Need help choosing?
Search our full directory or request quotes from verified companies — it's free.