There are times it pays to examine the method of choosing a forklift. Like for instance, does your business always choose the same models for your dock work? If so, you could potentially miss out on a more efficient truck. There may be various other models on the market which provide less exhaustion to operators and allow more to get done. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more cost-effective way. By doing some evaluation and research, you could determine if you have the best machine to suit your needs. By reducing operator fatigue, you can significantly increase your performance.
When determining forklift units which address your particular issues several of the key factors to consider may comprise:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department just loads out a few box trucks or semi-trailers per week, then you probably won't require an expensive lift truck to accomplish the tasks. A cheaper walkie model or walkie-rider will be able to handle the task if: A 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is enough and you are not required to stack loads in the trailer. 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 because 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 allow in-trailer stacking. These forklifts provide a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
For material handling needs, each business has a slightly different system. Several lift truck operators would often unload and load products in the shipping department as well as storing objects on inventory racks, handle the paperwork associated with the loads, replenish the manufacturing line, scan and attach bar codes and other jobs. Normally, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their forklifts in their shifts find it less tiring and a lot faster to exit a stand-up control unit, as opposed to a sit down kind.