There are times it pays to examine the process of choosing a lift truck. Like for instance, does your business always select the same units for your dock work? If so, you can potentially miss out on a more efficient truck. There could be different other models existing on the market that enable more to get accomplished because they offer less exhaustion to operators. You might be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more effective manner. By doing some research and evaluation, you could determine if you have the best machinery to suit your needs. By reducing operator fatigue, you could drastically increase your performance.
Some of the important factors to think about when determining forklift models that address particular concerns consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
You probably won't need an expensive lift truck to accomplish tasks if your shipping and receiving department loads just a few semi-trailers or box trucks a week. An inexpensive walkie unit or walkie-rider will be able to deal with the task if: You are not required to stack loads in the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is sufficient. Lastly, you should think about whether or not the transition from the dock floor to the dock leveler 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 always loading trailers on the other hand, a stand-up end control unit may make more sense over a walkie model or a walkie-rider. These battery-powered forklifts easily fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door. Their masts enable in-trailer stacking. These forklifts provide a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 pounds.
Operator Duties:
For material handling needs, each business has a slightly different system. Several forklift operators would often load and unload goods in the shipping department along with storing objects on inventory racks, handle the paperwork associated with the loads, replenish the manufacturing line, attach and scan bar codes and other tasks. Usually, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their forklifts during their shifts find it much faster and less fatiguing to exit a stand-up control model, rather than a sit down kind.