Sometimes, it pays to examine the method of choosing a forklift. Like for instance, does your business consistently choose the same models for your dock work? If so, you could potentially miss out on a more effective truck. There may be other models existing on the market that enable more to get accomplished since they offer less fatigue to operators. You might be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more cost-effective way. By doing some research and evaluation, you can determine if you have the right machinery to suit your needs. By reducing operator fatigue, you could significantly increase your performance.
When determining forklift models that address your particular concerns some of the important factors to think about could comprise:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
You probably won't need an expensive lift truck to complete jobs if your shipping and receiving department loads just a few box trucks or semi-trailers per week. An inexpensive walkie model or walkie-rider will be able to handle the task if: A 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is adequate and you are not required to stack loads inside the trailer. Last but not least, you have to 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 since the small load wheels must 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 model or a walkie-rider. These battery-powered forklifts easily fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door. Their masts enable in-trailer stacking. These types of forklifts provide a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
For material handling needs, each business has a slightly different system. Several forklift operators would often load and unload products in the shipping department along with storing items on inventory racks, handle the paperwork associated with the loads, replenish the manufacturing line, attach and scan bar codes and other jobs. Normally, the forklift operators who are constantly on and off of their forklifts in their shifts find it a lot faster and less tiring to exit a stand-up control model, rather than a sit down type.