The warehouse forklift truck is the most well-known type of forklift truck. It resembles a yellow golf cart with two forks sticking out from the front. Most of the time you will be using this truck in a facility with a large number of items in inventory. These trucks are excellent for loading and unloading balanced pallets and materials, as well as removing and transporting items from delivery vehicles.
A subspecies of warehouse forklifts, the side loaders are typically found in steel service centres and fabrication facilities with heavy and bulky items.
The operator sits in a side compartment and the side loader unloads items from the side. Side operation allows side loaders to easily climb along the racks and load and unload without having to turn around. This makes them useful for moving through narrow aisles and handling long loads such as lumber and pipes.
The counterbalanced forklift is a popular lift with forks at the front and a weight at the rear of the vehicle, to balance the weight of the load. Counterbalance trucks do not have extendable arms, so they can drive straight towards the load.
Also known as a telehandler or reach truck, the telehandler has a combination of crane and extendable arm forklift. The double forks attached to this arm are used to lift pallets from the ground.
The industrial forklift truck, also known as a large-capacity forklift truck, combines the functionalities of a warehouse forklift truck with that of a telehandler. Although it cannot reach difficult angles like a telehandler, it is capable of lifting loads much higher off the ground than a warehouse forklift and heavier loads.
Also known as a straight mast forklift truck, the rough terrain forklift truck is specially designed for outdoor construction sites, especially on uneven surfaces. These trucks have sturdy pneumatic tires that help them navigate rocky terrain. The special tires are oversized and threaded, giving them better balance and stability to transport materials safely. If you do most of the work indoors, you'll probably never need one, but rough terrain forklifts are a must for outdoor and construction applications.
Pallet trucks are specialized in nature. These forklifts, also known as pump trucks, are not capable of lifting large loads due to their small size. In exchange for power, pallet trucks take up a small footprint, allowing them to fit in tight spaces and lift small loads in tight spaces. While you sacrifice performance and maneuverability, the cost of buying and renting a pallet truck is much less.
Walkie Stackers have a strange appearance and special utility. Unlike other forklifts, these industrial trucks do not have a cab. Instead, the worker walks behind the truck and steers it with an attached handle. Like a pallet truck, these units lack power, maneuverability, or speed. However, they are ideal for situations where a higher lift truck is required.
The walkie stacker reaches much higher than its counterpart.
An order picker is a subspecies of the walkie stacker used to retrieve materials from the warehouse and deliver. Reaching heights of up to 32 feet, these machines are designed to lift operators onto storage racks and transport individual units. They are intended for customer order warehouses and storage facilities as they can pick one or two units instead of putting down full pallets and loads. Their versatile design allows them to handle items of different sizes, from car parts to furniture.
The reach truck is a warehouse truck that is mainly used for indoor work. Its key ability is being able to extend its forks beyond the bin and reach storage racks in a way that traditional forklifts cannot. It also features an open compartment that allows the operator a better view. Reach trucks, while excellent for indoor use, are not suitable for outdoor work due to the clearance under the undercarriage.