It is quite key for some businesses to examine the process of selecting a forklift. Like for example, will your business select consistently the same model for your warehouse or dock work? If this is so, you could be missing out on a more effective forklift. There can be different other models on the market that enable more to get accomplished as they provide less fatigue to operators. You might 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 equipment to suit your needs. By reducing operator fatigue, you can significantly increase your performance.
When determining forklift units which address your specific concerns some of the important factors to consider can comprise:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department just loads out a few semi-trailers or box trucks per week, then you probably won't require a pricey forklift to accomplish the job. An inexpensive walkie-rider or walkie model would be able to deal with the job if: You do not need to stack loads in the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 lb. capacity is adequate. 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 on the other hand, your shipping facility is always loading trailers, than a stand-up end control would make more sense over a walkie-rider or a walkie model. These battery-powered forklifts fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door easily. Their masts enable in-trailer stacking. These forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
Every company has a slightly different system for material handling. In some circumstances, several 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 loads, attach and scan bar codes and other tasks. Normally, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their lift trucks during their shifts find it much faster and less tiring to exit a stand-up control unit, rather than a sit down kind.