A "cherrypicker forklift" is a specialized electric warehouse truck designed to lift a worker along with the forks to high shelving, allowing them to manually pick individual items or cases directly from storage racks. While the term is often used informally to describe an order picker, it is also commonly applied to aerial work platforms (boom lifts) used for maintenance and construction. This guide focuses primarily on the warehouse order picker, clarifying its purpose, types, and key features.
Order Picker vs. Cherry Picker: What’s the Difference?
The terms are frequently used interchangeably, but they refer to different types of equipment. The table below clarifies the distinction:
Feature Order Picker (Cherrypicker Forklift) Cherry Picker (Aerial Work Platform / Boom Lift)
Primary Function Picking individual items from high warehouse racks Providing personnel access to elevated areas for maintenance, construction, or inspection
Lifting Mechanism Vertical mast that elevates the operator platform Extendable, articulating boom arm
Operator Position Stands on a platform, rides up with the forks Stands in a bucket or platform at the end of a boom
Primary Environment Narrow warehouse aisles, high-density storage Outdoor or industrial sites, often with rough terrain
Load Capacity Up to 8,000 lbs (for horizontal picking) Prioritizes safe operator elevation
Why Use an Order Picker (Cherrypicker Forklift)?
Order pickers are purpose-built to solve the challenges of modern order fulfillment. They offer significant advantages:
Increased Productivity: They eliminate the need for ladders, mezzanines, and excessive walking, drastically reducing travel and retrieval time.
Maximized Storage Density: Their compact design allows operation in narrow aisles, increasing storage capacity without expanding the warehouse footprint.
Enhanced Safety: They are designed with safety features like harness tie-down points, guardrails, and dead-man pedals to protect operators working at height.
Reduced Labor Costs: By increasing picking speed and accuracy, they help reduce labor expenses, which can account for over 50% of warehouse costs.
Key Specifications and Features
Lift Height
Order pickers are categorized by their maximum lift height:
Low-Level: Up to ~3 meters (10 ft)
Mid-Level: 3–6 meters (10–20 ft)
High-Level: Over 9 meters (30 ft) and up to 14 meters (46 ft)
Load Capacity
Capacities range from 3,000 to 8,000 pounds, with specialized models for heavier loads.
Power Source
Order pickers are Class II electric narrow-aisle trucks. They are typically powered by batteries, including lead-acid and increasingly popular lithium-ion options.
Key Components
A typical unit features a compact chassis, an electric battery, hydraulic pumps, an operator platform with controls, and a mast system.
Major Brands and Models
Yale: Offers low, medium, and high-level order pickers with capacities up to 8,000 lbs.
Clark: Known for compact designs and narrow aisle performance, backed by over 100 years of innovation.
Jungheinrich: The EKS 314 high-level order picker is designed for ergonomic efficiency and long run times.
EP Equipment: iLift supplies models like the JX0 electric vertical order picker.
Crown, Raymond: Other major brands in the order picker market.
Safety and Certification
Operating an order picker requires specialized training and certification. In the U.S., OSHA mandates formal training and certification for all operators. Training covers:
Load limits and stability principles
Emergency descent procedures
Fall protection requirements (harnesses and guardrails)
Safe maneuvering in narrow aisles
The bottom line: A cherrypicker forklift (order picker) is an essential tool for modern warehousing and e-commerce, designed to lift the operator to the load for efficient piece picking. It is distinct from a boom lift (also called a cherry picker), which is used for personnel access. Order pickers are available in low, mid, and high-level configurations with capacities up to 8,000 lbs. They improve productivity, maximize storage density, and enhance safety compared to traditional picking methods. If your operation involves picking individual items from high racks, an order picker is the right machine for the job.