Lift trucks are mobile equipment that use 2 prongs or forks to be able to place cargo into positions that would normally be difficult to reach. Normally, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial lift trucks are most often utilized around train and truck loading docks in addition to a lot of warehouse operation. These machinery have smaller tires which are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
Smaller lift trucks may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain forklift is designed to be operated on rough and unpaved surfaces. Normally, they are the ideal option for military and construction operation. Rough terrain forklifts usually have big pneumatic tires that are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, that could carry cargo up and out from the equipment's base or they could use a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
The rough terrain forklift emerged during the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first equipment was used around construction sites and could lift to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain forklifts became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available that could raise up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
During 1958, the first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced with a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 22.5 feet or 7 meters or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 35 feet or 11 meters. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in the year 1962. This unit allowed cargo to be placed out from the machine's base both above and below grade.