It is quite key for some companies to examine the method of choosing a lift truck. For example, would your company select consistently the same unit for your warehouse or dock work? If this is so, you could be missing out on a more efficient forklift. There may be other models available on the market that offer less exhaustion to operators and enable more to get accomplished. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more effective way. By doing some evaluation and research, you can determine if you have the best machinery to suit your requirements. By reducing operator fatigue, you could drastically increase your performance.
When determining forklift models which address your particular problems some of the important factors to think about could consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department just loads out a few box trucks or semi-trailers a week, then you probably won't need a pricey forklift to accomplish the tasks. An inexpensive walkie-rider or walkie unit will be able to deal with the job if: A 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is enough and you are not required to stack loads in the trailer. Last of all, 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 because the small load wheels should travel over the dock plate.
If your shipping facility is always loading trailers on the other hand, a stand-up end control model could make more sense over a walkie model or a walkie-rider. These battery-powered forklifts fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door easily. Their masts allow in-trailer stacking. These kinds of forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 pounds.
Operator Duties:
Every company has a slightly different system for material handling. In some circumstances, several forklift operators not just load trucks in the shipping department, but store inventory on racks, replenish the manufacturing line, handle the paperwork associated with the cargo, scan and attach bar codes and other tasks. Generally, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their forklifts in their shifts find it less fatiguing and much quicker to exit a stand-up control unit, rather than a sit down kind.