Vertical-mast and rough-terrain lift trucks keep picking up and positioning various building materials on different jobsites even through the rise and evolution of telehandlers on the market. There are many traditional-style lift trucks offered in the material handling industry which lost market share to telehandlers. This happened especially when the challenger broke onto the construction scene. Ever since that time, sales numbers have become stable. Vertical-mast lift trucks have re-emerged and seem to be becoming more popular again due to their greater production, modification of some telehandler-like features and low cost.
Straight-mast equipment will complete double the job which a telehandler will do because of their maneuverability and ground speed. Fascinatingly enough, rental outfits are beginning to charge higher rates on straight-mast units.
Rental purchasers are having major influence in the rough-terrain lift truck business. More than 50 percent of all vertical-mast forklifts are presently being sold to a rental yard. These acquisitions are generally driven mostly by use, which is a factor closely followed by purchase price.
In the material handling industry, the telehandler has become the darling new equipment. Its popularity has enhanced its benefit in the rental market as well. Their overall expansion has been moderated by their higher price. There is some forklift users who feel that telehandlers are not nearly as helpful as opposed to conventional rough-terrain lift trucks for loading and unloading repetitive tasks. This means that although competition among telehandler marketers has lowered their prices, many choose the RT forklifts that have been working well for decades.
In comparison, the telehandler is a little slower, ganglier to operate and requires a higher level of skill to complete the job. On the upside, they get the reach if they need it. There would always be a place within the business for lift trucks however, since there are locations that you will not be able to access with a telehandler.
The rough-terrain forklift is small, compact and could carry a heavier load vertically compared to the telehandler. Essentially, in order to use the right machinery for your application, you should determine what tasks precisely you would be completing, the kind of environment and circumstances you would be operating in and what your load capacity is. All these factors would help you decide what the right options available are.