Which forklift truck is right for the job?

Forklift trucks are used in the construction and manufacturing industries to move heavy loads from one place to another usually if the load only needs to be lifted a short height and carried for a short distance. Each forklift has a power unit that drives it and there are different types, electric which is battery powered, propane gas or diesel. Which type of forklift to use will be dependent upon the working environment in which it is going to be used for example, if it is to be used in an indoor environment it would mean an electrically powered truck would need to be used for safety reasons as the other two types produce noxious exhaust gases.

The importance of choosing the correct forklift truck for the task cannot be over emphasised. The weight of the load to be lifted should be carefully calculated plus any extra capacity for unexpected contingences such as a load that is heavier than anticipated resulting in the need to manually remove some of the load.

The physical size of the truck is also another consideration but is only usually an issue if work is being carried out in a confined space. Some forklift trucks are capable of shifting loads sideways as well as vertically and these are particularly useful in tight spaces.