There are actually 2 types of lift trucks, based whether or not they run on gas or electricity:
Internal Combustion Lift trucks: The Internal Combustion forklift will run on fuels such as liquid propane, gas, diesel or compressed natural gas or CNG. Gas powered units are great for outdoor use as they release gases and pollutants that are harmful to workers and pedestrians. Units which run on gasoline are also suitable for application in the rain and in bad weather. These units could lift weights around 15,000 to 35,000 pounds. Due to the fuel expenses and maintenance, the gas powered models are more costly to utilize compared to the electric models, although, they cost a lot less up front than the electric models. The liquid propane units are the right option to be used inside.
Electric Lift Trucks: The electric forklift models are powered by really large batteries that must be recharged. The vehicles do not produce any polluting air emissions as these models do not burn any fuel. They are the best choice for indoor use and warehouses. Furthermore, electric lift trucks do not need any fuel storage units and they are a lot quieter to run compared to other units. Amongst the downsides of electric powered units is that they are unable to carry loads over 15,000 pounds and therefore, have a slower acceleration than gasoline powered models.
Forklifts are specially made to quickly and easily transport heavy loads with ease. Like the case with most types of machines, unfortunately, forklift mishaps do occur on a regular basis. There are some safety regulations that have to be followed so as to keep everyone safe. The most vital concern is recruiting a trained operator, who could show you a valid lift truck license.
On the market nowadays, there are numerous different types of forklifts available. Choosing which one is best for your particular needs would be based on the type of environment your equipment will have to operate in, like for instance, indoors or outdoors or both and what kinds of loads which you have to transport. Once you understand your particular requirements, it would be very easy to match up to the best type of forklift. When you understand your requirements exactly you could make an accurate choice.
One more great way to get first hand experience on the various forklift units is the try renting your forklift. This would also enable you to see all the possible choices available to you. This is a cheaper way to determine if the type of machine you have selected could keep up with you on the job location.