An electric tug is a compact, battery-powered, pedestrian-operated mover that lets one person shift heavy wheeled loads — roll cages, large trolleys, distribution trucks, bins and bespoke equipment — without manual pushing and pulling. The operator walks behind the unit and steers while the powered drive wheel does the work, so loads that would otherwise need two or three people can be moved safely by one. You may also see these called electric tow tugs or powered tugs; the principle is the same. KC Supply supplies the GPC Industries electric tug range with UK delivery.
The GPC electric tug range
Two models cover most in-house handling jobs. The standard Electric Tug is available in 1,000kg and 1,500kg towing capacities, while the Premium Electric Tug is a higher-specification 1,500kg unit. All are battery-powered and pedestrian-controlled, designed to couple to wheeled loads and move them around warehouses, factories, hospitals and distribution sites.
What electric tugs are used for
Electric tugs earn their keep wherever loads are already on wheels but too heavy to move comfortably by hand. Typical uses include towing roll cages and stillages along despatch routes, repositioning loaded distribution trucks, moving waste skips and wheelie bins (used this way, powered tugs are often sold as bin tugs), and shifting heavy one-off equipment across smooth or slightly uneven floors. Because they are pedestrian-operated, they need far less space than a tow tractor or forklift and can work in tight aisles and through standard doorways.
How to choose an electric tug
Match the tug's rated capacity to the heaviest loaded weight you need to move, then factor in floor condition, gradients and how often it will be used — frequent, all-shift work justifies the premium model. Consider the coupling: a tug attaches to the load, so the connection needs to suit your cages or trolleys. For continuous multi-shift operation, check the battery capacity and charging routine so the unit is ready when you are.
Electric Tug vs Premium Electric Tug: which model do you need?
The range has three options. The standard Electric Tug comes in a 1,000kg version (from £4,423.14) and a 1,500kg version (£5,329.20); the Premium Electric Tug is a 1,500kg unit at £7,690.68. The rating is the towing capacity, so it has to cover the total weight being pulled: the goods plus the weight of the roll cage, trolley or truck underneath them. Weigh your heaviest realistic loaded cage, add a sensible margin, and choose the rating from that figure rather than from the weight of the stock alone. Lighter cage-and-trolley work suits the 1,000kg tug, heavier loads and longer runs point towards a 1,500kg unit, and the Premium model is the higher-specification choice for sites where the tug is in daily, all-shift use. If you are unsure which suits your loads, ask us to talk it through before ordering.
Electric tug, powered trolley or powered pallet truck?
These three are often confused, but they solve different problems. An electric tug pulls loads that are already on wheels, such as roll cages, distribution trolleys and bins, through a coupling. A powered trolley or platform truck carries the load on its own deck. A powered pallet truck lifts and moves palletised goods. If you have a fleet of cages and trolleys that already work, a tug lets you keep them and simply take the effort out of moving them. If you are moving loose or palletised goods, one of the other two is usually the better fit. Our guide to choosing a powered tug compares the options in more detail.
Planning a tug route
A tug is only as safe as the route it runs on. Before buying, walk the route with the loaded cage weight in mind: check floor condition, gradients, doorway widths, turning space at corners and lifts, and where the tug will be charged and parked. Keep pedestrians and powered handling apart where you can, using warehouse safety barriers and marked walkways, and make sure operators are trained and the equipment is inspected in line with PUWER.
Safety and manual handling
Electric tugs are one of the simplest ways to cut manual-handling injuries: they remove the heavy push-pull effort that causes back and shoulder strain, supporting compliance with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. As powered work equipment they fall under PUWER, so operators should be trained and the tug inspected and maintained in line with the manufacturer's guidance.
See the full electric tug range above, or compare with our pallet trucks and pallet stackers for lifting and stacking, and platform trucks & trolleys for the wheeled loads a tug is designed to move.
Pushing and pulling are manual handling operations in their own right under MHOR 1992, not just lifting. Our guide to manual handling equipment and the regulations covers when a powered tug is the right control for a heavy wheeled load.
New guide: electric tugs and powered trolleys — moving heavy loads without a forklift, covering what a tug rating actually means, tug-and-trailer versus powered trolley, and the PUWER duties that come with powered handling equipment.
Electric tug FAQs
What is an electric tug?
An electric tug is a battery-powered, pedestrian-operated mover that tows wheeled loads such as roll cages, trolleys, distribution trucks and bins. The operator walks behind and steers while the powered drive does the pulling, so one person can move loads that would otherwise need several people.
How much can an electric tug tow?
The KC Supply range is available with towing capacities of 1,000kg and 1,500kg. The rating covers the total weight of the load being towed, including the cage, trolley or truck it sits on, so weigh the heaviest loaded unit and choose a rating that covers it with a margin.
What is the difference between an electric tug and a powered trolley?
A tug pulls loads that are already on wheels through a coupling, so you keep your existing cages and trolleys. A powered trolley or platform truck carries the load on its own deck. Choose a tug if you already have a fleet of wheeled loads; choose a powered trolley if you are moving loose goods.
How much does an electric tug cost?
Prices in the KC Supply range start at £4,423.14 for the 1,000kg Electric Tug and £5,329.20 for the 1,500kg version, with the Premium Electric Tug at £7,690.68. Check the product pages for current prices and delivery.
Can one person operate an electric tug?
Yes. Electric tugs are pedestrian-operated, so a single trained operator walks behind and steers. The operator should be trained and competent, and the route should be assessed so pedestrians and other vehicles are kept clear.
Do I need training or a licence to use an electric tug?
There is no statutory licence for a pedestrian-operated tug, but PUWER requires employers to make sure anyone using work equipment has adequate information, instruction and training. Most sites keep a record of who has been trained on each machine.
Do electric tugs come under LOLER or PUWER?
A tug that only tows does not lift loads, so LOLER does not normally apply to it. It is powered work equipment, so PUWER does: it must be suitable, maintained in efficient working order and used by trained people. If you are unsure how the rules apply to your equipment, take advice from a competent person.
Can an electric tug move bins and waste skips?
Yes, powered tugs are widely used to move wheelie bins, waste skips and other wheeled containers, and used this way they are often sold as bin tugs. Check that the coupling suits your bins and that the total loaded weight is within the tug's rating.
