How Does an Automated Forklift Differ From a Pallet Truck AMR?
Both move pallets, but the lifting height and where they are used differ. The split comes down to whether most of the work is moving along the floor or putting loads on high racks. This post covers how to choose and which site conditions to check.
If you need to put pallets on high racks, it is a forklift. If most of the work is moving along the floor, it is a pallet truck AMR.
Many people search for an "automated forklift," see "pallet truck AMR" and ask what the difference is. Both lift pallets with forks, but the point where use and price split is different.
1. What is the difference?
| Automated forklift | Pallet truck AMR | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Puts pallets on and takes them off high racks | Moves pallets from floor to floor |
| Lifting height | As high as the rack levels | Only as high as needed to travel |
| Size | Large | Relatively small |
| Suited to | High-rack warehouses, receiving and shipping | Between production lines, repeated moves inside a warehouse, staging areas |
The AUTOXING Smart Pallet Truck (FT1500 and FT2000) that we supply is the second kind. It handles repeated transport: finding a pallet, inserting the forks and carrying it to a set position.
2. What do the numbers look like?
These are based on public specifications.
| Item | FT1500 | FT2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Rated payload | 1,500 kg | 2,000 kg |
| Overall size (L×W×H) | 1610 × 824 × 2120 mm | 1645 × 850 × 1890 mm |
On the product line page, these two models are linked to the task of "carrying pallets up to 1.5 to 2 tons." If you need work on high racks, the configuration is different, so we judge after looking at the site.
3. What do you check first?
Three things.
- Weight at its heaviest. If you choose by the usual weight, the robot stops on a busy day
- Pallet dimensions. The fork length and width have to fit for the forks to go in. If pallets are damaged or sizes are mixed, sort that out first
- Aisle width and turning space. You need not only the width for the body to pass but also room to turn
Add the floor condition (thresholds, slopes, drains) and whether it moves between floors, and the review is complete.
4. Does it replace a forklift driven by a person?
Not entirely. What suits automation is transport that repeats the same route. Work where the position changes each time or a person has to make a judgment is still done by people.
So for a first adoption, starting with the one section with the most traffic gives clearer results.
5. Which one fits our site?
- Floor to floor, repeating a set route → pallet truck AMR
- Putting loads on and taking them off high racks → a forklift type needs to be considered
- Want to move whole shelves → Sub Lift AMR, which goes under the shelf
- Lifting and moving racks or materials → L300 / Lift AMR
Which method fits depends on what you move. The items that go into a quote are covered in How Much Does an AMR Cost? What Goes Into the Quote.
Prices depend on site conditions, so we give them as a separate quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the pallets I have now as they are?
You need to check that they fit the fork dimensions. If sizes are mixed or many pallets are damaged, it is more stable to sort that out first.
Is it all right for it to run in the same space as people?
It is designed to move on the premise of sites shared with people. Aisle width, turning space and crossing points are still checked before adoption.
Do I have to lay lines or markers on the floor?
An AMR is a method that does not use floor lines. The difference from methods that do is covered in AGV vs AMR: What Is the Difference?.
How many times a day can one robot move loads?
It depends on the round-trip distance and waiting time. Tell us the start and end points and the number of trips per day, and we will calculate it.
Next step
Tell us the weight of the pallets at their heaviest and their dimensions, and the narrowest aisle width, and we will first narrow down which method fits. If you have a site drawing or photos of the aisles, please send them too.
Sources: Official AUTOXING Smart Pallet Truck (FT1500 and FT2000) specifications and SV Robotics product pages (payload, size and product grouping by kind of work, checked 2026-09-21). No amounts are given.