There are times it pays to examine the method of choosing a forklift. For instance, 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 existing on the market that enable more to get done since they provide less exhaustion to operators. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more cost-effective way. By doing some research and evaluation, you can determine if you have the right machinery to suit your requirements. By reducing operator exhaustion, you can significantly increase your performance.
Some of the key factors to consider when determining forklift models which deal with particular problems comprise:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
You probably won't require a pricey forklift to complete tasks if your shipping and receiving department loads just a few semi-trailers or box trucks per week. A less expensive walkie-rider or walkie model would be able to handle the task if: You are not required to stack loads in the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is adequate. Lastly, you should think about whether or not the transition to the dock leveler from the dock floor and into the trailer is not too jarring for the operator as the small load wheels should travel over the dock plate.
If your shipping facility is always loading trailers however, a stand-up end control unit could make more sense over a walkie model or a walkie-rider. These battery-powered forklifts fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door without difficulty. Their masts enable in-trailer stacking. These forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
Each business 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, attach and scan bar codes and other jobs. Generally, the forklift operators who are constantly on and off of their lift trucks in their shifts find it less fatiguing and a lot faster to exit a stand-up control model, rather than a sit down type.