It is quite key for some businesses to examine the process of choosing a forklift. For instance, will your company select consistently the same model for your warehouse or dock work? If this is so, you might be missing out on a more efficient forklift. There can be other models on the market which enable more to get accomplished since they offer less fatigue to operators. You might be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more cost-effective manner. By doing some research and evaluation, you can determine if you have the right equipment to suit your needs. By reducing operator fatigue, you can drastically increase your performance.
When determining forklift units that deal with your specific problems some of the key factors to think about may include:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department only loads out a few semi-trailers or box trucks per week, then you probably won't require a pricey forklift to complete the tasks. An inexpensive walkie model or walkie-rider will be able to handle the job if: You are not required to stack loads inside the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is enough. Last but not least, you should consider whether or not the transition to the dock leveler from the dock floor and into the trailer is not too jarring for the operator since the small load wheels should 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-rider or a walkie model. These battery-powered forklifts fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door without difficulty. Their masts enable in-trailer stacking. These forklifts provide a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
For material handling needs, each company has a slightly different system. Some lift truck operators would normally unload and load goods in the shipping department as well as storing things on inventory racks, handle the paperwork associated with the loads, replenish the manufacturing line, scan and attach bar codes and other jobs. Usually, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their lift trucks during their shifts find it a lot faster and less fatiguing to exit a stand-up control unit, rather than a sit down type.