There are times it pays to examine the process of selecting a forklift. Like for instance, does your business always select the same units for your dock work? If so, you could potentially miss out on a more efficient truck. There could be different other models on the market which enable more to get done since they provide less exhaustion to operators. You might be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more effective manner. By doing some research and evaluation, you can determine if you have the right equipment to suit all your needs. By reducing operator exhaustion, you could drastically increase your performance.
When determining forklift models which deal with your specific concerns some of the key factors to think about can comprise:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department only loads out a few semi-trailers or box trucks a week, then you probably won't require an expensive lift truck to complete the tasks. An inexpensive walkie-rider or walkie unit will be able to handle the task if: A 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is adequate and you are not required to stack loads in the trailer. Last but not least, 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 because the small load wheels have to travel over the dock plate.
If on the other hand, your shipping facility is consistently loading trailers, than a stand-up end control would 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:
Every company has a slightly different system for material handling. In certain circumstances, several forklift operators not only load trucks in the shipping department, but replenish the manufacturing line, store inventory on racks, handle the paperwork associated with the cargo, scan and attach bar codes and other tasks. Usually, the forklift operators who are constantly on and off of their forklifts during their shifts find it less fatiguing and much quicker to exit a stand-up control model, as opposed to a sit down kind.