There are times it pays to examine the process of choosing a forklift. For instance, does your company consistently choose the same models for your dock work? If so, you could potentially miss out on a more efficient truck. There might be different other models existing on the market that offer less exhaustion to operators and allow more to get accomplished. You might be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more cost-effective manner. By doing some evaluation and research, you can determine if you have the best machinery to suit your needs. By reducing operator fatigue, you can drastically increase your performance.
When determining forklift units that address your particular issues some of the key factors to think about could comprise:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department just loads out a few box trucks or semi-trailers a week, then you probably won't need an expensive forklift to complete the tasks. An inexpensive walkie model or walkie-rider will be able to handle the job if: A 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is sufficient and you are not required to stack loads in the trailer. Last of all, you must 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 allow in-trailer stacking. These forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 pounds.
Operator Duties:
For material handling requirements, each business has a slightly different system. Some lift truck operators would normally unload and load products in the shipping department in addition to storing objects on inventory racks, replenish the manufacturing line, handle the paperwork associated with the loads, attach and scan bar codes and other tasks. Usually, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their lift trucks during their shifts find it much quicker and less fatiguing to exit a stand-up control unit, rather than a sit down kind.