It is quite important for some companies to examine the method of choosing a forklift. For instance, would your company select consistently the same unit for your dock work or warehouse? If this is so, you might be missing out on a more effective forklift. There can be different other units on the market that provide less exhaustion to operators and allow more to get accomplished. You might be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more cost-effective manner. By doing some evaluation and research, you can determine if you have the right machine to meet your requirements. By reducing operator fatigue, you can significantly increase your performance.
When determining forklift models which address your particular problems some of the key factors to consider can consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department just loads out a few semi-trailers or box trucks per week, then you probably won't require an expensive forklift to complete the tasks. A cheaper walkie-rider or walkie unit would be able to deal with the task if: You do not need to stack loads inside the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is enough. Lastly, 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 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 allow in-trailer stacking. These types of forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 pounds.
Operator Duties:
For material handling requirements, every company has a slightly different system. Some lift truck operators will often load and unload products in the shipping department in addition to storing objects on inventory racks, handle the paperwork associated with the loads, replenish the manufacturing line, attach and scan bar codes and other jobs. Usually, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their forklifts in their shifts find it less fatiguing and much quicker to exit a stand-up control model, as opposed to a sit down type.