It is quite important for some companies to examine the process of selecting a forklift. Like for example, would your company choose consistently the same unit for your dock work or warehouse? If this is so, you could be missing out on a more efficient forklift. There may be other models on the market that offer 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 equipment to meet your needs. By reducing operator fatigue, you could drastically increase your performance.
Some of the key factors to consider when determining forklift units which address specific problems consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department only loads out a few box trucks or semi-trailers a week, then you probably won't need a pricey forklift to accomplish the tasks. An inexpensive walkie model or walkie-rider will be able to deal with the task if: A 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is enough and you are not required to stack loads in the trailer. Last but not least, you have to 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 must 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 easily fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door. Their masts allow in-trailer stacking. These forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
Every business 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 cargo, attach and scan bar codes and other jobs. Usually, the forklift operators who are constantly on and off of their lift trucks in their shifts find it a lot quicker and less fatiguing to exit a stand-up control model, as opposed to a sit down type.