It is quite important for several businesses to examine the process of choosing a lift truck. Like for example, would your company choose consistently the same model for your dock work or warehouse? If this is so, you might be missing out on a more effective forklift. There could be different other models on the market which offer less exhaustion to operators and enable more to get done. You might 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 right equipment to meet your needs. By reducing operator exhaustion, you could significantly increase your performance.
When determining forklift models that address your specific issues several of the important factors to consider could consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department just loads out a few box trucks or semi-trailers per week, then you probably won't require a pricey forklift to accomplish the tasks. An inexpensive walkie unit or walkie-rider will be able to handle the job if: You are not required to stack loads inside the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 lb. capacity is adequate. Lastly, you must consider 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 on the other hand, your shipping facility is consistently loading trailers, than a stand-up end control will make more sense over a walkie model or a walkie-rider. These battery-powered forklifts fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door without difficulty. Their masts enable in-trailer stacking. These types of forklifts provide a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
Each company has a slightly different system for material handling. In some circumstances, some 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 jobs. Generally, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their forklifts during their shifts find it a lot faster and less tiring to exit a stand-up control model, as opposed to a sit down kind.