We recently caught up with Mennolt from Queensland Storage Systems to talk about one of the most efficient ways to store bulk palletised goods, drive-in racking.
For warehouses dealing with large volumes of similar stock, floor space quickly becomes a premium. Drive-in racking is designed to solve that problem by maximising density and reducing the number of aisles needed. As Mennolt put it, “It’s all about getting the most storage out of your space. If you’ve got bulk stock that doesn’t need to be rotated all the time, drive-in racking keeps everything compact, tidy, and easy to handle.”
What Is Drive-In Racking?
Drive-in racking is a high-density pallet racking storage system where palletised goods are stored on rails rather than beams, creating lanes that forklifts can drive into to load and retrieve stock.
“Each lane can typically go four to five pallets high and anywhere from three to eight pallets deep, depending on the product and layout,” Mennolt explained. “It’s ideal for large quantities of the same or similar items and works on a LIFO (Last In, First Out) basis, which means the last pallet in is the first one out.”
By using the full height and depth of the warehouse, drive-in racking significantly increases storage capacity while keeping handling simple and efficient.
How Drive-In Racking Works
The key principle behind drive-in racking is that the first pallet in is the last pallet out — known as a LIFO (Last In, First Out) system. It’s designed for storing large volumes of the same or very similar products where rotation isn’t critical.
“As an example,” Mennolt said, “think about frozen turkeys or chickens in a cold store. You’ve got thousands of the same item and you want to store them in the most compact way possible. That’s where drive-in racking shines.”
Because forklifts drive directly into the lane to place or retrieve pallets, there’s no need for multiple aisles. “You only need one entry point per lane,” Mennolt explained, “which makes it extremely space efficient. It works best where floor space is limited and you’re not constantly accessing a wide range of different stock.”
Where Drive-In Racking Is Used
Drive-in systems are most often found in distribution centres, cold rooms, and freezer stores — anywhere there’s a need to maximise cubic storage while keeping stock easily accessible.
“It’s especially common in the food industry,” Mennolt said. “If you’re moving bulk quantities of frozen or packaged goods, drive-in racking gives you density and control without needing to move to a larger warehouse.”
Typical Design and Dimensions
In terms of design, each lane is around 1350 mm wide, with levels set roughly every 1200 mm to suit standard pallets. “A typical three-level system would be about 5.4 to 6 metres high,” Mennolt explained. “The load capacity is usually around one tonne per pallet, giving you up to eight tonnes per level depending on configuration.”
Drive-In vs Drive-Through Racking
“In the past, you used to see what was called drive-through racking,” Mennolt said. “That allowed forklifts to access the lane from both ends. But under current Australian standards, that’s no longer permitted because the back of the system must be braced for structural stability. If you remove that bracing, you compromise the rigidity of the rack.”
Benefits of Drive-In Racking
Drive-in racking isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but when it suits the product, it’s extremely effective.
“It offers very high storage density,” Mennolt said. “You can reduce the number of aisles and make the most of every cubic metre of your warehouse. For the right type of operation, it’s hard to beat.”
If your warehouse needs a high-density storage solution that makes the most of your available space, drive-in racking could be the answer.
Ready To Maximise Space in Your Workplace?
For tailored advice on whether this system suits your products and layout, call Queensland Storage Systems on 07 5537 5999 or submit an online enquiry to request a quote or site assessment today.
About Mennolt Regtien
Mennolt Regtien brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience in the storage and pallet racking industry in Australia, backed by a broader career spent helping businesses grow, improve productivity and solve operational challenges. Before moving into pallet racking and storage systems, he spent around 10 years consulting to small and medium businesses on growth and development, and earlier worked in venture capital and startups, including helping Australasian companies expand into Asian and US markets.
His experience helps him look beyond the racking itself to understand each client’s wider business goals, identify operational issues quickly, and recommend storage solutions that support both efficiency and future growth.
