It is quite key for some companies to examine the method of selecting a forklift. For instance, will your company select always the same unit for your dock work or warehouse? If this is so, you might be missing out on a more efficient forklift. There could be various other units on the market which offer less exhaustion to operators and allow more to get accomplished. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more cost-effective way. By doing some evaluation and research, you could determine if you have the right machinery to meet your requirements. By reducing operator exhaustion, you could drastically increase your performance.
When determining forklift models which deal with your specific problems some of the key factors to think about could comprise:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
You probably won't need a pricey lift truck to complete tasks if your shipping and receiving department loads only a few box trucks or semi-trailers per week. An inexpensive walkie-rider or walkie model will be able to deal with the job if: You are not required to stack loads inside the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is sufficient. Last of all, you should 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 because the small load wheels must travel over the dock plate.
If your shipping facility is consistently loading trailers however, a stand-up end control unit may make more sense over a walkie-rider or a walkie model. These battery-powered forklifts easily fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door. Their masts allow in-trailer stacking. These forklifts provide a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 pounds.
Operator Duties:
For material handling needs, each business has a slightly different system. Several forklift operators would usually unload and load goods in the shipping department as well as storing objects on inventory racks, handle the paperwork associated with the loads, replenish the manufacturing line, attach and scan bar codes and other tasks. Generally, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their forklifts during their shifts find it less fatiguing and a lot quicker to exit a stand-up control model, as opposed to a sit down type.