What Is A Tow Tractor?
Tow tractors, also known as “tuggers” are specialized vehicles built to tow goods or raw materials within a warehouse or other industrial operation. Some special types of tow tractors are also used in baggage handling operations within airports.
Tuggers can be powered by batteries or internal combustion, and come in a broad range of designs and capacities. These vehicles are usually designed to tow carts behind them, and come equipped with tow hitches for this purpose.
How Are Tow Tractors Used?
Tow tractors have a wide range of applications in a variety of industries. From light duty to heavy industrial applications, tow tractors are a good fit for many operations.
Warehouse
Horizontal transportation of commodities that do not require stacking is required in many warehouses. Operators can transfer goods far more efficiently by attaching many carts to an electric tow tractor as opposed to moving individual loads on pallet trucks or forklifts.
The same concept applies for low level order picking or goods replenishment. Many more items can be loaded and moved on carts, saving operators time by avoiding multiple trips.
Manufacturing
Tow tractors can be used for many applications inside a manufacturing operation, from general parts picking to moving heavy loads like steel bar stock.
Airport Ground Support Equipment (GSE)
The sight of baggage carts being towed from the gate to the terminal is familiar to almost everyone that travels. Tow tractors engineered for airport use are responsible for hauling these carts.
Tow Tractors Available From Welch Equipment
Welch Equipment proudly offers warehouse tuggers from Raymond, including the 8610 Tow Tractor, which is perfect for batch picking or horizontal transport of up to 10,000 lbs.
In addition, Raymond provides a fully automated AGV version, the 3020, which is perfect for resource intensive, repetitive functions that can be automated.
Outside of the warehouse, Welch Equipment supplies a wide array of electric, LPG and gas powered tow tractors from other manufacturers. This product line includes low, medium and high capacity options, with towing capacities of up to 120,000 lbs on the upper end.
Tow Tractors Near Me
If you’re considering the purchase of a tow tractor, or need more information on available options and technologies, contact a material handling expert at Welch Equipment today.
