Vertical-mast and rough-terrain lift trucks keep picking up and positioning different construction materials on different jobsites even through the evolution and rise of telehandlers on the market. There are numerous traditional-style lift trucks offered in the material handling industry which lost market share to telehandlers. This occurred specially when the challenger broke onto the construction scene. Ever since that time, sales numbers have become stable. Vertical-mast lift trucks have re-emerged and seem to be becoming more popular again thanks to their greater production, alteration of some telehandler-like features and low cost.
The straight mast forklift could finish double the job as a telehandler due to their excellent handling and maneuverability in combination with their better ground speed. Interestingly enough, rental outfits are beginning to charge higher rates on straight-mast models.
In the rough-terrain forklift industry, rental buyers have been having a greater influence. More than half of all vertical-mast lift trucks are currently being sold to a rental yard. These acquisitions are normally driven mainly by use, which is a factor closely followed by purchase price.
Within the material handling industry, the telehandler has become the darling new machinery. Its popularity has improved its benefit in the rental market as well. Their overall expansion has been moderated by their higher price. There is some forklift users who feel that telehandlers are not practically as productive compared to conventional rough-terrain forklifts for unloading and loading repetitive tasks. This means that even though competition amongst telehandler marketers has lowered their prices, a lot choose the RT forklifts that have been performing well for decades.
In comparison, the telehandler is ganglier, a little slower to operate and requires a higher level of skillfulness to finish the task. On the upside, they get the reach if they require it. There will continuously be a place within the business for forklifts though, because there are locations that you will not be able to access with a telehandler.
Rough terrain lift trucks are usually compact equipment, smaller but more able to carry a heavier cargo vertically compared to the telehandler. Essentially, in order to utilize the right machinery for your application, you would need to determine what jobs exactly you would be accomplishing, the kind of environment and conditions you would be operating in and what your load capacity is. All these factors will help you choose what the best alternatives available are.