Telescopic handlers are a bit similar to forklifts. It has a single telescopic boom that extends forwards and upwards from the truck, and a counterweight in the rear. It works a lot more like a crane than a forklift. The boom can be equipped with various kinds of attachments. The most common attachment is pallet forks, but the operator can also attach a bucket, muck grab or lift table. Also known as a telehandler, this type of machine is usually utilized in agriculture and industry.
When it is difficult for a conventional forklift to access areas, a telehandler is frequently utilized to transport loads. Telehandlers are normally used to unload pallets from in a trailer. They are also more handy than a crane for lifting loads onto other high places and rooftops.
There is only one major limitation in using telehandlers. Despite rear counterweights, the weight-bearing boom can cause the equipment to destabilize when it extends. Hence, the lifting capacity decreases when the distance between the front of the wheels and the centre of the load increases.
Telehandlers were developed in England by the Matbro company. Their design was based largely on articulated cross country forklifts used in forestry. Initial versions had a driver's cab on the rear section and a centrally mounted boom on the front, but nowadays the design which is most popular has a strong chassis along with a rear mounted boom and side cab.