Rough-terrain and vertical-mast lift trucks keep lifting and placing different building supplies on different jobsites even through the rise and evolution of telehandlers on the market. There are numerous traditional-style lift trucks existing in the material handling market which lost market share to telehandlers. This occurred specially when the challenger broke onto the construction scene. Ever since that time, sales numbers have become stable. Vertical-mast lift trucks have re-emerged and seem to be becoming more popular once more due to their greater production, lower cost and alteration of certain telehandler-like features.
Straight-mast machines will complete double the work that a telehandler would do due to their ground speed and maneuverability. Interestingly enough, rental outfits are starting to charge higher rates on straight-mast models.
Rental buyers are having significant influence within the rough-terrain forklift industry. Over 50 percent of all vertical-mast forklifts are presently being sold to a rental yard. These acquisitions are normally driven mainly by use, which is a factor closely followed by purchase price.
Within the material handling industry, the telehandler has become the darling new equipment. Its popularity has enhanced its advantage in the rental market too. Their overall expansion has been moderated by their higher price. There is several lift truck users who feel that telehandlers are not practically as productive as opposed to traditional rough-terrain lift trucks for loading and unloading repetitive jobs. This means that although competition among telehandler marketers has lowered their prices, many choose the RT forklifts that have been performing well for decades.
The telehandler is a bit slower machine in comparison to a rough terrain forklift model. They are also ganglier to operate and requires a higher level of skill to complete the task. On the upside, they get the reach if they require it. There will always be a place in the industry for lift trucks however, since there are locations that you will not be able to access with a telehandler.
Rough terrain forklifts are normally compact equipment, smaller but more able to carry a heavier cargo vertically as opposed to the telehandler. Basically, so as to use the best machine for your application, you should determine what tasks exactly you would be completing, the kind of environment and conditions you will be operating in and what your load capacity is. These factors would help you choose what the right options available are.