It is quite key for some companies to examine the method of selecting a forklift. For instance, would your company select always the same model for your warehouse or dock work? If this is so, you might be missing out on a more efficient forklift. There can be various other models on the market that provide less fatigue to operators and allow more to get accomplished. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more cost-effective manner. By doing some evaluation and research, you can determine if you have the best machine to suit all of your needs. By reducing operator fatigue, you can drastically increase your performance.
When determining forklift models which address your specific concerns some of the key factors to consider could consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department just loads out a few box trucks or semi-trailers per week, then you probably won't need a pricey lift truck to complete the tasks. A less expensive walkie-rider or walkie model will be able to deal with the task if: You do not need to stack loads in the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 lb. capacity is enough. Lastly, you should think about whether or not the transition to the dock leveler from the dock floor and into the trailer is not too jarring for the operator because the small load wheels have to travel over the dock plate.
If on the other hand, your shipping facility is always loading trailers, than a stand-up end control would make more sense over a walkie model or a walkie-rider. These battery-powered forklifts fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door without difficulty. Their masts allow in-trailer stacking. These types of forklifts provide a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
Every business has a slightly different system for material handling. In some circumstances, some forklift operators not only load trucks in the shipping department, but replenish the manufacturing line, store inventory on racks, handle the paperwork associated with the cargo, attach and scan bar codes and other jobs. Generally, the forklift operators who are constantly on and off of their lift trucks in their shifts find it much faster and less tiring to exit a stand-up control model, as opposed to a sit down type.