There are times it pays to examine the method of selecting a lift truck. Like for example, does your business consistently choose the same models for your dock work? If so, you can potentially miss out on a more efficient truck. There could be various other units available on the market which offer less fatigue to operators and allow more to get accomplished. You might be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more effective manner. By doing some research and evaluation, you can determine if you have the right equipment to meet all of your needs. By reducing operator exhaustion, you can significantly increase your performance.
Several of the key factors to think about when determining forklift models which deal with specific issues comprise:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
You probably won't require a pricey forklift to accomplish jobs if your shipping and receiving department loads only a few box trucks or semi-trailers a week. A less expensive walkie-rider or walkie model will be able to deal with the job if: A 4500 to 6000 lb. capacity is sufficient and you are not required to stack loads in the trailer. Last but not least, 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 since the small load wheels need to travel over the dock plate.
If on the other hand, your shipping facility is always loading trailers, than a stand-up end control will 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 types of forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 pounds.
Operator Duties:
For material handling requirements, every company has a slightly different system. Some forklift operators would often load and unload products in the shipping department as well as storing objects on inventory racks, handle the paperwork associated with the loads, replenish the manufacturing line, attach and scan bar codes and other tasks. Normally, the forklift operators who are constantly on and off of their forklifts during their shifts find it less fatiguing and much faster to exit a stand-up control unit, rather than a sit down type.