Rough-terrain and vertical-mast forklifts keep picking up and positioning different construction supplies on different jobsites even through the rise and evolution of telehandlers on the market. There are numerous traditional-style forklifts available within the material handling market which lost market share to telehandlers. This occurred especially when the competition broke onto the construction scene. Since that time, sales numbers have become stable. Vertical-mast lift trucks have re-surfaced and seem to be becoming more popular again thanks to their greater production, modification of certain telehandler-like features and low cost.
Straight-mast equipment will finish double the job which a telehandler would do due to their maneuverability and ground speed. Interestingly enough, rental outfits are beginning to charge higher rates on straight-mast models.
Within the rough-terrain forklift industry, rental buyers have been having a greater influence. More than 50 percent of all vertical-mast lift trucks are currently being sold to a rental yard. These purchases are normally driven mostly by use, that is a factor closely followed by acquisition price.
The telehandler has become a very common machine within the material handling industry. Their popularity has given them a better advantage in terms of rental utilization. Their overall expansion has been moderated by their higher price. There is some lift truck users who feel that telehandlers are not practically as productive compared to conventional rough-terrain lift trucks for loading and unloading repetitive jobs. This means that even though competition amongst telehandler marketers has lowered their prices, many prefer the RT forklifts which 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 need it. There would always be a place in the industry for forklifts however, as there are places that you would not be able to access with a telehandler.
The rough-terrain forklift is small, compact and could lift a heavier load vertically as opposed to the telehandler. Essentially, so as to utilize the right machinery for your application, you must determine what jobs exactly you will be completing, the kind of environment and conditions you would be operating in and what your load capacity is. These factors would help you choose what the right options available are.