There are times it pays to examine the method of choosing a forklift. Like for example, 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 can be various other units on the market which offer less fatigue to operators and allow more to get accomplished. You might be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more effective manner. By doing some evaluation and research, you can determine if you have the right machinery to meet all of your requirements. By reducing operator fatigue, you could drastically increase your performance.
Several of the key factors to think about when determining forklift models that address particular concerns consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
You probably won't require an expensive forklift to complete tasks if your shipping and receiving department loads only a few box trucks or semi-trailers a week. A cheaper walkie-rider or walkie model would be able to deal with the task if: A 4500 to 6000 lb. capacity is adequate and you are not required to stack loads in the trailer. Last of all, you must consider whether or not the transition from the dock floor to the dock leveler and into the trailer is not too jarring for the operator as the small load wheels need to 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 with no trouble. Their masts enable in-trailer stacking. These forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
For material handling needs, every business has a slightly different system. Several forklift operators would usually unload and load goods 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 tasks. Generally, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their forklifts in their shifts find it less fatiguing and a lot quicker to exit a stand-up control model, rather than a sit down kind.