There are times it pays to examine the process of selecting a forklift. Like for instance, does your company always select the same models for your dock work? If so, you could potentially miss out on a more effective truck. There can be other units existing on the market that offer less exhaustion to operators and allow more to get done. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more effective way. By doing some research and evaluation, you can determine if you have the right machinery to meet all of your needs. By reducing operator exhaustion, you could drastically increase your performance.
Several of the key factors to consider when determining forklift models that address specific issues comprise:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department just loads out a few box trucks or semi-trailers a week, then you probably won't need an expensive lift truck to accomplish the tasks. A cheaper walkie unit or walkie-rider would be able to deal with the job if: You do not need to stack loads in the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is enough. Last of all, you should 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 should travel over the dock plate.
If your shipping facility is always loading trailers on the other hand, a stand-up end control model may make more sense over a walkie model or a walkie-rider. These battery-powered forklifts fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door with no trouble. Their masts enable in-trailer stacking. These forklifts provide a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
For material handling requirements, each business has a slightly different system. Some lift truck operators will often load and unload goods in the shipping department in addition to storing items on inventory racks, handle the paperwork associated with the loads, replenish the manufacturing line, scan and attach bar codes and other jobs. Usually, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their lift trucks during their shifts find it a lot quicker and less tiring to exit a stand-up control model, as opposed to a sit down kind.