It is quite important for some companies to examine the method of choosing a forklift. Like for instance, would your business choose always the same unit for your warehouse or dock work? If this is so, you might be missing out on a more effective forklift. There can be other units on the market which enable more to get done since they offer less fatigue to operators. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more cost-effective way. By doing some evaluation and research, you can determine if you have the best machinery to suit all of your requirements. By reducing operator fatigue, you could significantly increase your performance.
When determining forklift models that deal with your specific problems several of the important factors to consider could consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department only loads out a few semi-trailers or box trucks per week, then you probably won't require a pricey forklift to complete the job. A less expensive 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. Last of all, you need to 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 should travel over the dock plate.
If on the other hand, your shipping facility is consistently loading trailers, than a stand-up end control will 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 enable in-trailer stacking. These types of forklifts provide a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 pounds.
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 connected with the cargo, scan and attach bar codes and other jobs. Usually, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their lift trucks during their shifts find it less tiring and much quicker to exit a stand-up control model, rather than a sit down kind.