It is quite key for some companies to examine the method of choosing a lift truck. Like for example, would your business choose consistently the same unit for your dock work or warehouse? If this is so, you could be missing out on a more efficient forklift. There can be other units existing on the market which enable more to get accomplished since they provide less exhaustion to operators. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more effective way. By doing some evaluation and research, you could determine if you have the right machine to meet all of your needs. By reducing operator exhaustion, you can drastically increase your performance.
When determining forklift models which deal with your particular issues several of the key factors to consider can consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department only loads out a few semi-trailers or box trucks a week, then you probably won't require an expensive forklift to complete the job. A less expensive walkie unit or walkie-rider would be able to deal with the task if: A 4500 to 6000 lb. capacity is enough and you are not required to stack loads inside the trailer. Last but not least, 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 need to travel over the dock plate.
If your shipping facility is always loading trailers however, a stand-up end control model could make more sense over a walkie-rider or a walkie model. These battery-powered forklifts easily fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door. Their masts allow in-trailer stacking. These forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
Each business has a slightly different system for material handling. In certain circumstances, some forklift operators not just 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 forklifts in their shifts find it less tiring and much quicker to exit a stand-up control model, rather than a sit down kind.