It is quite important for some companies to examine the method of selecting a forklift. For example, will your business choose always the same unit for your dock work or warehouse? If this is so, you could be missing out on a more effective forklift. There could be various other models existing on the market which enable more to get accomplished as they offer less fatigue to operators. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more cost-effective manner. By doing some evaluation and research, you could determine if you have the best machinery to meet all your needs. By reducing operator fatigue, you can significantly increase your performance.
Several of the key factors to think about when determining forklift units which address specific problems consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department just loads out a few semi-trailers or box trucks a week, then you probably won't require a pricey lift truck to complete the tasks. A less expensive walkie model or walkie-rider would be able to handle the job if: You are not required to stack loads inside the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is sufficient. Last of all, 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 because the small load wheels have to travel over the dock plate.
If on the other hand, your shipping facility is always loading trailers, than a stand-up end control would 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 lbs.
Operator Duties:
Each company has a slightly different system for material handling. In some circumstances, some forklift operators not only 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 jobs. Usually, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their forklifts in their shifts find it much quicker and less tiring to exit a stand-up control model, rather than a sit down type.