It is quite important for several companies to examine the method of choosing a lift truck. Like for example, will your business choose always the same model for your dock work or warehouse? If this is so, you might be missing out on a more effective forklift. There might be various other models on the market which enable more to get done since they offer less exhaustion to operators. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more effective manner. By doing some evaluation and research, you could determine if you have the best machinery to suit all your needs. By reducing operator exhaustion, you could drastically increase your performance.
Some of the important factors to consider when determining forklift models that address particular issues include:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
You probably won't require an expensive lift truck to accomplish jobs if your shipping and receiving department loads only a few semi-trailers or box trucks per week. A cheaper walkie-rider or walkie unit would be able to deal with the task if: A 4500 to 6000 lb. capacity is sufficient and you do not need to stack loads in the trailer. Last of all, you must 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 should 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 with no trouble. Their masts enable in-trailer stacking. These forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 pounds.
Operator Duties:
Each business has a slightly different system for material handling. In certain circumstances, several forklift operators not just load trucks in the shipping department, but replenish the manufacturing line, store inventory on racks, handle the paperwork connected with the loads, scan and attach bar codes and other tasks. Generally, the forklift operators who are constantly on and off of their lift trucks during their shifts find it much quicker and less tiring to exit a stand-up control model, rather than a sit down kind.