Sometimes, it pays to examine the method of choosing a forklift. For example, does your business always choose the same models for your dock work? If so, you can potentially miss out on a more effective truck. There may be other models existing on the market which allow more to get done as they provide less fatigue to operators. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more cost-effective manner. By doing some evaluation and research, you could determine if you have the right machine to suit all your needs. By reducing operator fatigue, you can drastically increase your performance.
When determining forklift units that deal with your specific concerns some of the key factors to think about may consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
You probably won't need an expensive forklift to accomplish jobs if your shipping and receiving department loads just a few semi-trailers or box trucks a week. An inexpensive walkie-rider or walkie unit would be able to handle the task if: A 4500 to 6000 lb. capacity is sufficient and you are not required to stack loads inside the trailer. Last but not least, you must 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-rider or a walkie model. These battery-powered forklifts fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door with no trouble. Their masts enable in-trailer stacking. These types of forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
For material handling needs, each business has a slightly different system. Several forklift operators would often unload and load products in the shipping department in addition to storing objects on inventory racks, handle the paperwork associated with the loads, replenish the manufacturing line, scan and attach bar codes and other jobs. Generally, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their forklifts during their shifts find it less tiring and a lot faster to exit a stand-up control unit, rather than a sit down kind.