Industrial warehouse with tall blue and orange shelving units holding pallets of goods.

Drive-In Pallet Racking—High-Density Storage for Bulk SKUs

Maximise capacity in tight footprints. Drive-in racking lets forklifts enter storage lanes to place and retrieve pallets on rails—perfect for bulk, low-rotation lines and cold stores.

Drive-in racking is a high-density storage system that is ideal for warehouses with a low number of product lines and a need to maximize storage space. This style of racking allows for deep storage, making it perfect for confined operating areas like chillers and freezers.

Warehouse storage area with blue metal shelving filled with pallets of goods.

Where Drive-In Racking Wins

  • Highest density for bulk SKUs
    Deep lanes reduce aisles and lift capacity in the same footprint—ideal for chillers and freezers where cubic metres are expensive.

  • Shorter forklift travel in-lane
    Operators travel less between put away and pick, lowering energy use and time inside controlled environments.

  • Suited to LIFO
    Best for non-perishables or large runs of the same product where last-in, first-out works operationally.

  • NZ compliant by design
    Engineered and installed to the NZ building code

Is Drive-In Right for You?

A strong fit when you have:

  • Multiple pallets of the same SKU

  • Low to medium rotation (LIFO acceptable)

  • Consistent pallet quality and dimensions

  • Chiller/freezer constraints where density matters most

Consider alternatives when:

  • You need FIFO (look at pallet flow/shuttle)

  • You run many SKUs with small counts per SKU (selective or double-deep may suit better)

We’ll compare options and show the trade-offs.

How It Works - What to Expect

Forklifts drive into a lane and place pallets on side rails, working from the back out. Each lane holds a single SKU or batch to avoid mixing and mispicks. Lane depth, rail pitch, and entry clearance are set to your pallet size, weights, and forklift mast. For high-use lanes or freezer rooms, we specify impact protection, guide angles, and sacrificial uprights to reduce damage at the face.

Our Simple Process

  1. Free site consultation and measure up

  2. Agree a racking plan that works for your business, prepared by our professional AutoCAD designers

  3. Quote for new racking or good quality secondhand.

  4. Install • stay open and operational if required.

  5. Personal, onsite handover to ensure customer satisfaction.

How We Find Your Capacity

  • Complimentary site visit with expert advice from our experienced consultants.

  • Complimentary AutoCAD designs prepared by our professional designers

  • We can then confirm your pallet capacities and numbers of SQU locations

Why Choose Elite Racking

  • Create extra space without moving

  • AutoCAD designs showing pallet and pick location capacities

  • Install around live operations • zone isolation, nights and weekends when needed

  • Clear accountability • direct access to the owners

  • New or good quality second-hand • meet budget and lead times while staying compliant

Assurances

  • Owner led and operated

  • We can manage the entire compliance process for you

  • Phased installations, after hours or full closure

  • Auckland based, and operating NZ wide

Warehouse storage racks filled with boxed goods.
Book a Free Consultation
Call Us
Email Us

Our latest projects

TSS Sensitive Freight

Elite Racking transformed TSS Sensitive Freight warehouse with a custom narrow aisle pallet racking system. Our turnkey solution included design, supply, delivery, and installation, maximizing storage capacity while ensuring safety and compliance.

Semi-Automated Shuttle Racking

Semi-automate pallet shuttle system installed into a commercial freezer and running at negative 18 degrees Celsius. The system achieves an 80% storage utlisation.

Ecolab

Elite Racking recently completed a full-service pallet racking project for Ecolab, delivering a custom-designed system with complete supply, delivery, and installation.
We handled everything — from layout design to full compliance management — ensuring a seamless, stress-free experience for the client. The result: a safe, efficient storage solution delivered on time and to spec.

Click here to view more

What our customers say about us

  • We were thrilled with the pallet racking Elite Racking provided for our warehouse in Botany. Their team was incredibly helpful from start to finish, understanding our specific storage needs and recommending the perfect system. The installation was efficient and professional. We couldn't be happier with the results and would highly recommend Elite Racking.

    Robbie Beilby
    Managing Director
    Target Furniture

  • We were in the market for a vertical storage rack. After contacting and discussing our needs, Elite Racking made a site visit to ensure their solution would meet our needs. After viewing the location and needs a couple of additional suggestions were made, which we adopted. Order placed, and delivery was earlier than expected which was great allowing us to complete the workshop setup. Very pleased with solution and delivery. Will be using Elite Racking again.

    Jason Clarke
    Managing Director
    Teltherm

  • Elite Racking recently completed the design, supply and install of pallet racking into our brand new warehouse in Wiri and we couldn’t be happier. From the offset, they listened to our needs, designed a solution tailored to our specific freight profile, and managed the whole installation process, allowing us to remain focused on our day to day business. The quality of the racking is excellent, the installation laser perfect and the project came in on budget – I highly recommend Gavin, Zach and the team at Elite Racking.

    Jason Tredgett
    General Manager
    TSS Sensitive Freight

  • We recently used Elite Racking for a complete pallet racking solution, and I'm impressed. Elite provided a full turnkey service – from consulting and design through to supply, delivery, and installation. The entire project was completed on time and on budget. Their team was friendly and professional throughout. Their solution is working well for us.

    Max Divers
    Managing Director
    Divers Group

  • Very impressed with professionalism, good advice, great speed of service, came in on time and to budget. Well worth dealing with Elite, highly recommend

    Chris Barnes
    Site Operations Manager
    Nutrimetics

  • We had a fantastic experience with Elite Racking. Their team was incredibly supportive, professional, helpful, and accommodating from start to finish. They took the time to understand exactly what we needed and provided expert advice tailored to our requirements. Communication was clear and efficient throughout, and they delivered everything on time and with great attention to detail. On top of their excellent service, their pricing was very competitive—great value for the quality and support they provide. It's clear they genuinely care about their clients and take pride in their work. Highly recommended!

    May Visethsinh
    Customer Services & Warehouse Supervisor
    Bonson Packaging

Frequently Asked Questions

  • High-density LIFO storage. Forklifts enter storage lanes to place pallets on rails; best for bulk runs vs selective 100% direct access.

  • Yes. Higher density reduces cubic-metre cooling costs. We specify guide angles, impact protection, and freezer-suitable anchors/finishes.

  • Consistent pallet size and sound condition to seat properly on rails. We confirm pallet specifications during design.

  • Entry guides, rack end protectors, column guards, and sacrificial uprights at the face. Annual inspections recommended under AS/NZS 4084.

  • Each lane should hold a single SKU or batch to avoid mixing and mispicks. We set lane depth and rail pitch to your pallets and forklift mast.

  • Often yes. We manage building consent and provide PS1/PS4, RAMS, seismic/floor checks, and load signage.

  • Yes. Zoned works or after-hours/weekends. Full closure is available if it shortens the programme and increases safety.