I still remember standing with a delivery driver behind a quick-service restaurant on a cold, rainy Tuesday morning. He pointed to a full pallet of poultry on his jack and said, “Without this equipment (Hybrid Sled) I wouldn’t be able to move all this chicken and play with my kids after work today.” Then he added, almost jokingly, “This doesn’t even feel like work compared to my last food service delivery job.”
What struck me most that morning wasn’t just his relief—it was the clarity of what he was really saying. Drivers want to do good work, stay safe, and still have enough left in the tank to enjoy life after their shift. Their job is extremely demanding. Those simple needs often get lost in the complexity of foodservice delivery, where outdated tools and inefficient processes have become “just the way it is.” But moments like his remind us why the industry needs more than another piece of equipment. It needs a true partner—one willing to be out in the rain, to listen, to understand the strain behind every stop, and to redesign the delivery model around the people who make it run. That’s the role Rehrig Pacific shows up to play every day.
At Rehrig Pacific innovation is at the heart of everything we do, that’s the starting point of every conversation.
A Partnership Approach—Not Just a Product Catalog
Rehrig Pacific has spent decades inside warehouses, riding along on routes, standing in cramped store backrooms, and studying the “last 250 feet” that make or break a delivery. Our approach is consultative by design. We ask questions. We watch how real people move product. We explore root causes instead of symptoms.
That curiosity is what drives our portfolio of delivery innovations—and why major broadline distributors, regional operators, and national quick-service chains trust Rehrig Pacific as more than a supplier. They rely on us to help solve problems that affect labor, safety, capacity, and cost in ways that create measurable, ongoing value.
As trusted partners to top foodservice distributors nationwide, we offer customized solutions that address their unique challenges. Whether it's a need for driver safety and retention, tailer and fleet usage optimization, or meeting sustainability goals, our integrated approach delivers a comprehensive solution that empowers our foodservice distributor partners to thrive.
Optimized Pallets: Maximizing Every Inch of Trailer Space
Trailer space continues to be one of the most underleveraged assets in foodservice distribution. The conventional 40"×48" pallet consumes only 80" of a 94"-wide trailer, leaving significant capacity unused.
Rehrig Pacific’s 23"×44" Duo pallet was developed with broadline distributors who wanted to eliminate this inefficiency. Expanding to 88" across the trailer, it delivers approximately 17% more cubic utilization—up to 112 additional cases on a 26' truck or 226 more cases on a 48' trailer. These compact pallets keep each customer’s order contained, letting drivers roll a single pallet in the door instead of repeatedly going from trailer to store.
For distributors with predictable routes and order sizes, the 29"×42" pallet offers another option, fitting three across and adding 60–120 cases depending on configuration. These compact pallets keep each customer’s order contained, letting drivers roll a single pallet to the door instead of repeatedly sorting mixed loads.
Constructed from lightweight HDPE, the delivery pallets weigh roughly 20 lbs, stack 20 high, and eliminate splintering—reducing sprains, broken cases, and trailer debris. The result: higher payload per trip, more stops per truck and fewer routes, less manual handling, and meaningful cost savings. One national QSR chain reported $2.8 million in savings and 18 million pounds of CO₂ offset from a single distribution center over five years.
Powered Handling That Transforms Labor on Every Stop
The Duo Lift—Rehrig Pacific’s electric pallet jack with adjustable forks—was engineered for the realities of restaurant deliveries. Forks expand to handle two 23"×44" pallets and retract to go in on the narrow side for tight aisles, allowing drivers to unload faster and more safely. With its compact zero-turn design and 4,000-lb capacity, drivers experience up to 35% faster unloading and 15% fewer injuries.
The Hybrid Sled extends this advantage with powered lift and drive in a hand-truck-sized footprint that moves in and out of trailers without ramps or strain on the 29”x42” platform for larger delivery quantities. Combined, the Duo Lift and Hybrid Sled allow drivers to take optimized pallets all the way to the point of merchandising with fewer touches, less fatigue, and greater consistency.
A Safer, Greener, More Efficient Delivery Network
Reducing manual lifting and pushing doesn’t just lower injury rates—it widens the labor pool, improves driver morale, and supports long-term retention. Store partners experience quicker, cleaner deliveries while distributors benefit from fewer miles, fewer trucks, and lower emissions.
Together, Rehrig Pacific’s pallet solutions and powered handling equipment create a system that helps distributors deliver smarter, safer, and greener—turning each route into a strategic advantage instead of a daily bottleneck.
A comprehensive study conducted with a leading beverage company confirms that the Duo Lift significantly reduces injury risks, lowers workers’ compensation claims, and expands the labor pool — especially for women. Key findings include:
- 523% increase in disability risk when pushing/pulling 110 lbs.
- Only 0.1% of women and 29.4% of men can safely handle 100 lbs. on inclines.
- The Duo Lift completed all ergonomic tests successfully and outperformed competitors.
- Inclusive design benefits
- Reduced physical strain and injury risk
- Enhanced maneuverability and delivery efficiency
- Increased retention rates (up to 90%)
Looking Ahead: Delivering on Purpose
The future of foodservice delivery will belong to companies that rethink the entire process, not just the equipment. At Rehrig Pacific, our purpose has always been to design systems that empower people, reduce waste, and elevate efficiency across the supply chain. Every innovation we bring forward comes from being curious, listening deeply, and building alongside the people who deliver America’s food every day.
And we’re just getting started.
Author
Grant Degarmo
Director of Sales - Delivery Solutions - Essential Markets