It is quite important for some companies to examine the process of selecting a forklift. 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 efficient forklift. There could be various other models existing on the market which allow more to get done since they provide less fatigue to operators. You might be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more effective way. By doing some research and evaluation, you could determine if you have the best equipment to suit all your needs. By reducing operator fatigue, you could drastically increase your performance.
Several of the key factors to consider when determining forklift models that address specific problems consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
You probably won't require a pricey lift truck to accomplish jobs if your shipping and receiving department loads only a few semi-trailers or box trucks a week. A less expensive walkie-rider or walkie unit would be able to handle the job if: You do not need to stack loads inside the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 lb. capacity is enough. Lastly, you should 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 as the small load wheels must travel over the dock plate.
If your shipping facility is consistently loading trailers however, a stand-up end control model may 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 types of forklifts provide a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 pounds.
Operator Duties:
Each business has a slightly different system for material handling. In some 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 cargo, attach and scan bar codes and other tasks. Usually, the forklift operators who are constantly on and off of their lift trucks in their shifts find it a lot faster and less tiring to exit a stand-up control unit, as opposed to a sit down type.